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COFffilGHT DEPOSm 



WITHOUT THE WALLS 



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THE MACMILLAN COMPANY 

NKW YORK • BOSTON • CHICAGO • DALLAS 
ATLANTA • SAN FRANCISCO 

MACMILLAN & CO., Limited 

LONDON • BOMBAY • CALCXTTTA 
MELBOURNE 

THE MACMILLAN CO. OF CANADA. Ltd. 

TORONTO 



WITHOUT THE WALLS 

A READING PLAY 



hi.. - '. BY 

KATRINA TRASK 

Author of "In the Vanguard," "The Mighty 
and the Lowly,** etc. 



iQeto gorb 

THE MACMILLAN COMPANY 

1919 



All rights reserved 






COPTBIOHT, 1919 
By the MACMILLAN COMPANY 



Set up and electrotyped. Published, April, 1919 



APR 19 1919 

©CI.A5L5272 



ACT I 

SCENE I 



WITHOUT THE WALLS 

ACT I 

SCENE I 
The Year 33 a. d. 

A Court in the House of Jahdiel, the Pharisee, in the 
City of Jerusalem. The House stands toward 
the Eastern Gate of the City, not far from the 
Temple. 

To the right, a door enters into the private apart- 
ments of Alceda, the daughter of the House: 
to the left, a gate opens out on to the main road: 
in the background is a small, private gate that 
opens on to a by-road. 

The Court is large and beautiful, filled with oleander 
trees in full blossom: beneath them are marble 
seats. A fountain plays in the centre of the 
Court: beside it is a special marble seat a little 
apart from the others: upon this is lying a lute 
and a scarf of gauze. 

Beneath the trees near the fountain a merry black- 
eyed boy is lying lazily on his back, looking up, 
through the branches of the trees, to the blue sky. 
3 



4 WITHOUT THE WALLS [act i 

He is dressed in the picturesque parti-coloured 
garments of a house-servant of Judea: he is softly 
playing a flute. 
A little farther off sits a large matronly Hebrew woman 
intently sewing a bright coloured fabric: she has 
a stern face and quick eager eyes that seem con- 
stantly on the alert: this is Elizabeth the nurse of 
Alceda. She looks with much contempt at the 
lazy boy lying on the grass. 

Elizabeth 

David! David! 

The flute playing continues. 

Elizabeth 
Is the boy deaf? David! 

David 

Laughing mockingly. 

"Deaf-David! " That is not my name. 

Elizabeth 
Your name makes not a dog's difference. 
What I want to know is this — ^have you done 
the work I bade you do? Did you sweep the 
inner Court? — Did you bring the water from 
the well ? — Did you gather the rose leaves ? 



ACT I] WITHOUT THE WALLS 5 

David 

Smiling and showing his very white teeth. 

I did none of these things — I have been far 
too busy all day long. 

Elizabeth 
Busy! Ha, busy! This morning you were 
throwing dice. I know it: Miriam saw you. 
I will tell the Master. 

David 

Impudently. 

And I will tell him it is not true. He will be- 
lieve me: he thinks all women are liars. 

Elizabeth 

Starting. 

How know you that ? 

David 
How do I know when the sun shines, silly, or 
when the rain rains ? By using my eyes. 

Elizabeth 
Have you done nothing since you came in from 
playing dice? That was three hours ago. 



6 WITHOUT THE WALLS [act i 

David 

Mischievously. 

I have been eating figs. 

Elizabeth 

Scornfully. 

A precious occupation for a full-grown man. 

David 

Yesterday you said I was a half-grown boy. 

Elizabeth 

Snappishly. 

Yesterday was yesterday — to-day is to-day. 

David 

Provokingly. 

Ah ! I have grown over night. How fast things 
grow in this country ! 

He rises, stretches himself, yawns lazily and walks 
over to the marble seat where the lute is lying: 
he looks at the lute seriously and kneels before it. 

O silent lute ! You are endowed with life since 
her dear fingers have touched you: she, the 
fairest lady in Judea, has given you life. 



ACT I] WITHOUT THE WALLS 7 

Elizabeth 
Is the Hebrew boy a heathen that he bends his 
knee to idols? 

David 

Angrily. 

You fat foolishness, I am as much a heathen as 
you are a beauty. 

Elizabeth 
Thanks be to the Lord, there comes Alceda! 
Be off with you ! 

She rises and goes toward him threateningly: he makes 
a mischievous grimace. Alceda enters: she is 
young and very fair to look upon: her blue gar- 
ments are woven of fine texture and overlaid with 
heavy embroideries of silver and gold. Alceda 
sees the grimace: she knows that there has been 
a conflict of words between David and Elizabeth 
is an occurrence which frequently happens. 



Alceda 

In a sweet pleading voice, 

David. 

David bows to the ground. 



8 WITHOUT THE WALLS [act i 

David 

Mistress. 

Alceda 

Seriously. 

David, Elizabeth is my dear mother-nurse. If 
you would please me, you must please her. 

David 

Humbly. 

Yes, Mistress. 

Alceda 

Smiling. 

Come, play me a tune on your pretty flute. 

David 

Aside. 

That would please Elizabeth about as much as 
it would please her to see a camel in her closet 
with her Sabbath garments. 

Alceda sits on the marble seat beside her lute, and 
listens whilst David plays. When he finishes 
she smiles graciously. 

Alceda 
That tune is very lovely: it sounds like the 



ACT I] WITHOUT THE WALLS 9 

song birds singing their good-night amidst the 
oleander trees. 

David 
O Mistress, you are very kind. 

Alceda 
Now go, David, like my dear carrier-boy and 
do the bidding of Elizabeth. 

David 

Bowing profoundly. 

O Mistress, I would go to death for you. 

Exit David. 

Elizabeth 

Gruffly. 

You humour that boy far too much. You will 
spoil the little in him that is not already spoiled. 

Alceda 
Kindness does not spoil: our mighty David 
says — ''Thy gentleness hath made me great" — 
gentleness helps — it never spoils. It is so 
pleasant to be kind. Life is a wonderful thing. 

She takes up her lute, and passing her hand over the 
strings begins to play. 



10 WITHOUT THE WALLS [act i 

Alceda 

Singing. 

Down in the pool where the lilies grow, 
Where the lovely water lilies blow, 
Where the South wind stirs the almond tree. 
In the pool with the hues of the blue-green sea, 
To the dulcet sound of the lute's low note. 
On the waveless waters we will float. 

Cool is the plash of the water there, 
Unbind the strands of the close-bound hair, 
Slip from the bosom the wimple white ; 
In languorous fragrance of the night. 
To the dulcet sound of the lute's low note. 
On the waveless waters we will float. 

Elizabeth 
Your Father would not like that song. 

Alceda 
And wherefore not? 

Elizabeth 

Shrugging her shoulders. 

Ask him. 



ACT I] WITHOUT THE WALLS 11 

Alceda 
He would not tell me if I asked him — ^he tells 
me nothing. 

Elizabeth 
Nay, not he! 

Alceda 
Then, wherefore ask? 

Elizabeth 
That you may know there are things you may 
not know. 

Alceda 

Ah ! Do I not know that too well ! 

Alceda drops her lute and goes to the nurse; she kneels 
beside her. 

Alceda 
O you who have been more than mother to 
me — tell me of my Mother ! 

Elizabeth 
Showing much agitation. 

Hush! 



12 WITHOUT THE WALLS [act i 

Alceda 
Now, by the sun in Heaven, — I will not hush ! 
Her lips tremble: tears come into her eyes. 

Long ago, I saw a star-eyed Spirit of the night, 
bending above my bed — her garments were 
fragrant with perfume : her caressing arms en- 
folded me ; I heard a voice — as soft as Summer 
breezes murmuring in the olive trees — and then, 
she was gone — I was alone — alone, with two 
stern frowns as guardians — that on my Fa- 
ther's brow, and that on yours. If I said 
"Mother" I was buffeted by him — and you 
would weep : it was not justice to a little child. 
At last, I am a woman — and I would wed: 
where is my Mother? 

Elizabeth 
Sternly. 

Wherever the Great Jehovah wills ! 
Alceda 

Impatiently. 

That is no answer. 

Elizabeth 
Hark! — Your Father's step upon the porch. 



ACT I] WITHOUT THE WALLS 13 

Straighten the loose strands of your hair! 
Take your lute, — and, if you be wise, sing a 
song of Israel and of Israel's God. 

Alceda takes the lute and mischievously sings the frag- 
ment of a love song. 

Alceda 

Singing. 

O sweeter than sweets of the honey-flower, 
To the golden-throated bee — 
As he sips her heart from hour to hour — 
Is the breath of my love to me. 

As Alceda sings, Jahdiel, the Pharisee, enters the 
Court. He is a tall, stern-looking man, well- 
named. He looks in very truth like the "Re- 
venge of God" as his name implies. There is 
unrelenting severity about his face, which seems 
to change the atmosphere of the Court from a 
sunny playground to a place of punishment. 

Jahdiel 

Sternly. 

Silence! Am I to have a lute-playing idler 
for a daughter? Where is your distaff? 
What has become of your spinning ? 
Alceda is silent for a moment; a slight shiver passes 
over her frame; then she lifts her head. 



14 WITHOUT THE WALLS [act i 

Alceda 

Aside. 

Why should I be afraid as I have ever been 
since I was a child? I am a woman now, the 
betrothed of Tiberius. 
She goes timidly towards him. 
Will you kiss me, my Father? 

Jahdiel 

Turning away from her. 

Wanton wiles! You are the daughter of^ — 
her whose daughter you are. We will make an 
end of this. It is time for you to wed. 

Alceda 

The colour rising to her brow, her bosom swelling. 
That I know. Father. 

Jahdiel 
He comes, to-day, to meet you. Your mar- 
riage portion is large, and he has great pos- 
sessions. In that, you are equal; but in other 
things— ! 

He breaks off suddenly like a snapped thread — after 
a moment he continues. 



ACT I] WITHOUT THE WALLS 15 

O God of Israel ! I thank thee that thou hast 
found me worthy to send a careful Master to 
my House, who will take this wild olive for new 
grafting ! 
Alceda rises with dignity. 

Alceda 
And who is this careful Master who will take 
me for grafting? 

Jahdiel 
It is Josephus, the Pharisee, a great man in 
Israel. 

Alceda 

With eyes dilating in surprise. 

Josephus? — Josephus? — Father, you jest! 

Jahdiel 
Do I look like a man who jests ? 

Elizabeth 
Aside. 

About as much as he looks like a sporting-cock ! 

Alceda 
Father, at Harvest time, you said it would be 



16 WITHOUT THE WALLS [act i 

well — ^as no Hebrew wanted me for wife — if I 
found a Roman home and took a Roman mate : 
you gave Tiberius, the Roman, the hope that 
he might woo me for his bride : he has wooed— 
and won! 

Jahdiel 

Indignantly. 

Tiberius? He is of that vile Roman tribe! 
He was well enough for your portion if no 
grapes grew in the vineyard. I was content to 
let an unsought maiden find a Roman bed, if 
no son of Israel would look upon her! It is 
not unlawful to play at odds with a Roman — 
they play their foxy game with us. 

Alceda 
Proudly. 

And why should no son of Israel look upon 
me? I am not ill-favoured — and I am your 
daughter. 

Jahdiel 

There is one who has looked upon you, — Je- 
hovah be praised — Josephus! And he will 
stoop to wed you and raise up children, not- 
withstanding the blight upon my House. 



ACT I] WITHOUT THE WALLS 17 

Alceda 

Quickly. 

The blight?— The blight? What blight, Fa- 
ther? 

Jahdiel turns on her a face terrible to see. 

Jahdiel 

In a hissing tone. 

Shall I tell you? 

Alceda 

Backing away from him and closing her eyes, as 
though about to swoon. 

No!— No!— tell me not when you look like 
that. 

Jahdiel 
There is no need to swoon — I had no thought 
to tell you. Josephus will be here at once. He 
well knows the blight upon my House and yet 
he takes you as you are. 

Alceda 

Recovering herself, with an air of audacity. 

I do not know of any blight — and I will not 
take him as /te is ! 



18 WITHOUT THE WALLS [act I 

Jahdiel raises his hand as if to smite her, and then 
reconsiders the matter. 

Alceda 

With a shudder. 

Father — I cannot wed Josephus. I am prom- 
ised to Tiberius.. 

Jahdiel 

With irrevocable decision in his tone. 

You are already the wife of Josephus — ^by my 
word! 

Alceda 
I am already the wife of Tiberius — ^by that 
same word : I will not wed Josephus ! 

Jahdiel 

You will not? Now, by the Law of Moses, 
you will obey your Father ! 
Steps can be heard. 

He comes — mind your manners — ^be courteous 
— be hospitable — he is our guest. 

A servant enters the Court, followed by Josephus. 
Josephus is the age of Jahdiel: he is superbly 
dressed, but his dress does not redeem the repel- 



ACT I] WITHOUT THE WALLS 19 

lent aspect of his face; it is long, narrow and 
sharp: he has a very sensual mouth with full 
hanging under lip and small eyes like a ferret's. 

Jahdiel 
Welcome, Friend, to my poor house. 

Turing to Alceda. 

Alceda, here is a guest who honours our house 
by entering. Josephus, here is your hand- 
maiden. 

Alceda hows with grace and dignity. 

Alceda 
Welcome, Sir, to my Father's house. 

Josephus 
O fairer than the daughters of Judea! Your [1 

eyes are fish-pools, and your lips have fed on ' 

honey. 

Alceda flashes a scornful look at him and walks out of !| 

the Court. 
Jahdiel motions Josephus to a seat. 

Jahdiel 
Sit, Josephus. The day is warm. Alceda has 
gone for cooling drinks. 
They sit on the seat amidst the oleanders. 



20 WITHOUT THE WALLS [act i 

And whilst you rest will you forget a while you 
are a Pharisee? 



JOSEPHUS 

What mean you by this sacrilege? 

Jahdiel 

I mean, will you partake of Roman refresh- 
ment in the Roman manner which is threaten- 
ing our austerity in these lax days ? 

JoSEPHUS 

I am the strictest of my sect in the dogma of 
the synagogue, but — ^but — I sometimes yield to 
Roman ways — ^they are amusing. 

Jahdiel 

There are some lively dancers I have mixed 
amongst the women-dancers of my house for 
entertainment. Herod hath set a strange new 
fashion at the Palace. I see you are very 
weary and, methought, perchance it might re- 
fresh you to indulge in new ways in these new 
days: the dancers are ready. 



ACT I] WITHOUT THE WALLS 21 

JOSEPHUS 

Yes, I am weary. I will relax my wonted aus- 
terity. 
Jahdiel claps his hands: a servant appears. 

Jahdiel 
Bid the dancers come. 

The servant goes out. A troop of beautiful maidens 
with cymbals dances in. Alceda returns and as 
they dance she serves her Father and her Father's 
guest, as is fitting for a Hebrew maiden, with 
wine and syrups: she then takes her seat on her 
marble bench, a little apart beneath a hanging 
rose-vine. The dancers sing as they dance: 

Bind the flowers in your hair, i 

Strike the cymbals, maidens fair, 
As your feet glide in and out 
Wave your floating scarfs about ; 
Soft the tinkling love-bells ring, 
Dance and sing, dance and sing. 

Now your dancing feet keep time. 

To the rhythm and the rhyme, 

Of the cymbals' ecstasy. 

Bright your shimmering scarfs wave free. 



22 WITHOUT THE WALLS [act i 

Soft the tinkling love-bells ring, 
Dance and sing, dance and sing. 

Josephus regards the dancing girls with a look like a 
satyr: he rubs his hands and smiles in sensuous 
enjoyment. 

Josephus 
It is a pleasant sight. You bring forth treas- 
ures for my coming, Jahdiel. 

Jahdiel 
Naught is too fair to do you honour, Josephus. 

Josephus 
That little one with breasts like two does and 
limbs like ivory — who is she? 

Jahdiel 
She is Rajah— from the East. 

Josephus 
I would see her dance an Eastern dance. 

Jahdiel 

Rajah, dance an Eastern dance. 

The others draw back and seat themselves on the grass. 
Rajah comes forward alone. 



ACT I] WITHOUT THE WALLS 23 

The Dancing Girls 
Singing as Rajah dances. 

O joyous the hours, 

When you dance 'mid the flowers, 

With fairy-like feet, 

Wafting fragrance so sweet. 

Rajah — Rajah! 

From East-land, afar. 
You come like a star : 
A twinkling delight 
To gladden our sight. 
Rajah — Rajah ! 
Exit the dancers. 

JOSEPHUS 

They know how to dance: our Hebrew girls 
are more beautiful but the women of the East 
have a better understanding of man's desire. 

Jahdiel 
We of the sect of the Pharisees are not supposed 
to know desire. 

JOSEPHUS 

Giving Jahdiel a lascivious wink most unpleasant to 
see. 



24 WITHOUT THE WALLS [act i 

Man is man whatever his sect may be. 

He turns to Alceda with a look in his eyes that comes 
from watching the dancing. 

Rajah is fair but Alceda is taller and more fair. 

Alceda draws her veil around her which partly con- 
ceals her face and her form. 

Alceda 
Proudly. 

Rajah is a dancing girl from the heathen East: 
Alceda is a woman of Israel — ^the daughter of 
Jahdiel of the land of Judea. 

JOSEPHUS 
Turning to Jahdiel. 

In truth her manners match her beauty. 
Jahdiel 

With dignity. 

She is my daughter. 

Josephus draws near to Alceda, looks her over from 
her head to her feet with sensual eyes and reaches 
out his hand caressingly. 

Josephus 

Insinuatingly. 



ACT I] WITHOUT THE WALLS 25 

You find favour in my sight, fair maiden. 

Alceda looks at him, sees the expression in his eyes 
which terrifies her: she steps hack, drawing her 
veil around her. 

Alceda 

In a low strange voice unlike her own. 
You do not find favour in my sight. 

JOSEPHUS 

Sharply. 

That is unfortunate as you are to be my hand- 
maiden. 

Alceda 

Proudly. 

It is far from my will and from my purpose! 

JOSEPHUS 
Smiling disagreeably. 

You are a coy maiden — it is not unpleasant. 

Alceda 

I am a proud woman : I bid you farewell. 

Alceda draws her veil more closely around her and 
turns to walk away. 



26 WITHOUT THE WALLS [act i 

JOSEPHUS 

To Jahdiel, his anger rising. 

Is it for this you lured me with promise and 
persuasion ? 

Jahdiel 

In anger to Alceda. 

By what cool daring do you shame my house 
and contradict my words? 

Alceda 
Father— 
Jahdiel smites Alceda on the mouth. 

Jahdiel 
To Josephus. 

She is but a midget with unruly buzz. We will 
tame her! All will be well. Come, let us 
leave her to her medicine; she will be purged 
and pliant by to-morrow. 

They start to leave the Court: Jahdiel hows Josephus 
out first, then turns to Alceda who stands still with 
wide-open eyes, her hands motionless where they 
have dropped to her sides. 



ACT I] WITHOUT THE WALLS 27 

Jahdiel 
You hissing thing! I will instruct you in the 
Tables of the Law. 

Elizabeth lifts her obsequious form; a new dignity 
comes upon her. 

Elizabeth 

Indignantly to Jahdiel. 

She is but a child — my little one — a child scarce 
weaned from the Mother she did not know, — 
and you have smitten her! 

Jahdiel 
And I will smite you, also, and have you beaten 
with many stripes, you busy-body, if you do 
not hold your tongue ! 
Exit Jahdiel. 

Elizabeth 

Tenderly. 

My little lamb, my wounded lamb — come to 
my arms! Come lie upon my breast, — and 
feel the beating of my heart for you ! 

Alceda looks straight before her with wide-open, un- 
seeing eyes; she does not move. 



28 WITHOUT THE WALLS [act i 

Alceda 

In a tense voice. 

He smote me on the mouth — 

Elizabeth 

My lamb, — ^my little darling of the fold, — 
come, let me comfort you. 

Alceda 

He smote me on the mouth — He struck the lips 
Tiberius has kissed! — 

Elizabeth 

Hoping to arouse her. 

Comes not Tiberius to the house to-day? 

Alceda starts, and throws off the lethargy that has held 
her. 

Alceda 

Eagerly. 

Ah, yes — the hour is not far off. Come, wash 
my face and bind my hair and make me ready 
for my lord. — 

She eagerly starts to go into the house with the nurse: 
stopping at the door she lays her hand upon the 
nurse's arm, with fascinating persuasion. 



ACT I] WITHOUT THE WALLS 29 

O Foster-mother, will you guard our speech — 
and warn me if my Father should return? — I 
think he will not come into the Court again to- 
day — but, who can tell? He always does the 
thing I least expect. Tiberius will be here at 
set of sun. 

Elizabeth 
Fear not, my little lamb, I will watch, raven- 
eyed, and give the alarm if any comes to break 
upon your meeting hour. At set of sun, Ti- 
berius will find you here amid the flowers, and 
out of the abundance of your two hearts, you 
may speak. The little Eastern gate is locked, 
and I will sit before the Southern gate and 
watch the main road. 
Muttering to herself, aside. 

Smite me — ^beat me with many stripes? — In- 
deed ! A Hebrew woman is a burdened beast, 
but, peradventure the beast may kick and over- 
turn the pile of treasure on her back. 
Aloud. 
Do not weep, my lamb. 

Alceda 

Drawing herself up proudly and brushing the tears 
from her eyelashes. 



30 WITHOUT THE WALLS [act i 

Weep? — And wherefore should I weep: — I am 
a child no longer. 

Elizabeth 
Ay, ay. 

Aside. 

She has a spirit in her. She is no snivel- 
snavel. And what a look of her Mother is in 
her eyes, to-day! 



ACT I 

SCENE II 



ACT I 

SCENE II 

The Court in the house of Jahdiel, the same as before. 
Alceda and Tiberius on the marble seat by the 
fountain. 

Tiberius is a Centurion of high rank. He has the 
characteristic virility and commanding presence in- 
herited from a long line of distinguished Romans; 
his fine profile and changing eyes hold a dream, 
inherited from his mother, who was a beautiful 
Greek. 

Alceda 
I thought the hours were a thousand years, until 
you came. 

Tiberius 
To me it has been aeons. My vestal Love, the 
dawn is in your eyes, the dew of the morning is 
upon your lips, the purity of the northern snow 
upon your brow. 

Alceda 

Very seriously. 
Tiberius — 

33 



34 WITHOUT THE WALLS [act i 

Tiberius 

Smiling. 

What a solemn and alarming note, — "Tibe- 
rius" — you say my name as though you were 
Atropos. 

Alceda 
Atropos is one of your Fates, is she not ? — 

Tiberius 
She it is who cuts the thread. 

Alceda 
That is what I must do — Cut the dear thread 
between us two — 

Tiberius 

Throwing back his fine head and laughing lightly. 
As if you could ! 

Alceda 
I cannot — ^but I must! 

Tiberius 
Read me your riddle. 

Alceda 
My Father has forbidden our love. 



ACT I] WITHOUT THE WALLS 35 

Tiberius 

Your Father gave me his word that you should 
be my bride. You are the bride of my heart — 
no man can put us asunder now. 

Alceda 

Sorrowfully and simply. 

He thought no son of Israel would marry me 
so he permitted me to think of a Roman al- 
though Rome is the enemy of Judea. 

Tiberius 

Surprised. 

Are the men of Israel mad, dead, dull, or are 
they blind ? 

Alceda 

Sorrowfully. 

I know not why, but there is some strange 
mystery. I am unlike the maidens of my na- 
tion, Tiberius — ^the men of Judea shrink from 
me. 

Tiberius 

Ah! You are strange indeed to them. They 



36 WITHOUT THE WALLS [act i 

look for dull earth and they find sparkling 
fire — they look for a beast of burden and they 
find a winged bird — they look for virgin come- 
liness and they find the blinding beauty of a 
daughter of the Gods. 

Alceda 
That is the favour of your gracious eyes, Be- 
loved, but the men of Judea do not find me 
beautiful, they turn away from me: but now 
there is one who does desire me, who will wed 
me — wherefore my Father has commanded me 
to marry him. And he would be wroth at me 
for meeting you — he would curse you, Tiberius. 

Tiberius 

Scornfully. 

I am a Roman citizen — I fear not his curse. 

Alceda 

Frightened. 

O Tiberius — you do not tremble? You fear 
not his curse? 

Tiberius 
No more than I fear the buzzing of foolish 
flies. 



ACT i] WITHOUT THE WALLS 37 

Alceda 
He would marry me to Josephus — the Pharisee. 

Tiberius 

Indignantly. 

To Josephus? Josephus? Why not to your 
fabled Methuselah? 

Alceda 

With unconscious satire. 

Doubtless it would be he, were he living until 
now — for he would have great possessions — 
he would be very rich. 

Tiberius 

Playfully. 

Will you be lured by riches to Josephus ? 

Alceda 

I? — If he were master of every furlong of 
ground in Judea, if he were overlaid with gold, 
studded with all the jewels of the Orient, and 
capped with pearls of great price — I would not 
marry himi 



3S WITHOUT THE WALLS [act i 

Tiberius 

Tenderly. 

And Tiberius? 

Alceda 

If Tiberius were an humble worker in a vine- 
yard, clad in goatskins — with but a penny a 
day — he would be my King! But — (her 
voice becomes low and shy) but not my hus- 
band — lest I break the Law. 
Tiberius takes her hand and kisses it reverently. 

Tiberius 

The Law of Love is stronger than all laws — 
you are to be my wife, Alceda — my heart-loved 
wife. 

There is a tense silence: Alceda' s soul is in conflict. 

Alceda 
Your Gods are not my Gods, the Lord God of 
Israel alone is my God. 

Tiberius 
In Rome you may worship any God that you 



ACT I] WITHOUT THE WALLS 39 

desire — in whatever way you desire. Your 
God has made you what you are, I am content 
with Him. 

Alceda 

Much troubled. 

I do not know — the way is not clear to me — 
His law is unalterable — ^'Honour thy Father 
and thy Mother:" — and yet — and yet — can I 
honour my Father, in truth, when that obedi- 
ence is founded on a broken faith — a broken 
word — to you? 

Tiberius 
My sweet logician, who can say that women 
know not how to reason? 

Alceda 
Innocently. 

Does any one dare to say that? 
Tiberius 

Smiling. 

Some men have even dared to say it. 

Alceda 

With spirit. 



40 WITHOUT THE WALLS [act i 

They are quite wrong. We are the true lo- 
gicians ; we have no confusion from distraction 
as men have: we go straight to the heart of 
things. 

Tiberius 

Embracing her. 

Yea, of all things ; you go straight to my heart ! 

Alceda 

Brokenly, continuing her thought aloud. 

And then — in honouring my Father I must 
dishonour my Mother ; he does not honour her 
— he never honours her. 
The tears come to Alceda' s eyes. 
Tiberius, I have no mother. 

Tiberius 

My lovely Flower of the Mountains — your hus- 
band will encompass you, and you will know 
no need, not even of a mother's tenderness. 

Alceda 
O my Beloved ! 
There is silence in the Court for a few moments. 



AGT i] WITHOUT THE WALLS 41 

Alceda 

Looking up suddenly. 

Tiberius, have you seen the Nazarene, again? 

Tiberius 

Yes, I have seen Him, and each time I am the 
more convinced of His truth. 

Alceda 

Ah! He is true — I have rehearsed His words, 
His looks. His bearing — since that day we 
heard Him together. A strange sense stirred 
through me, then, as I looked upon Him. My 
heart said to me, ^'Here is a man who is not all 
a man: here is Truth incarnate in the flesh." 

Tiberius 

Thoughtfully. 

My mind is divided about this Jesus. I do not 
feel that He is a stirrer-up of strife ; but I fear 
He is an impractical dreamer who spins a web 
of wild folly, in which He catches the common 
folk to their undoing. 

Alceda 
I long to hear Him again but I fear my Fa- 



42 WITHOUT THE WALLS [act i 

ther: he thinks He is very evil and should be 
crucified. 

Tiberius 

With emphasis. 

If Pilate should consent to that, he will be 
anathema in history. I think the man of 
Nazareth is partly mad, but even if He be mad, 
it is a harmless madness. 

Alceda 

Emphatically. 

He is not mad — He, of all men, is most sane. 

Tiberius 
You say that with conviction. 

Alceda 
I know it ! It seems as if Jehovah whispers it 
in my heart. 

Tiberius 

Reflecting. 

Often I think He is mad. He says words of 
pure folly. Listen to the wild words I heard 
Him say but yesterday. The crowds were 



ACT I] WITHOUT THE WALLS 43 

thronging about Him : He stood upon the steps 
of the Temple; He was like one of the pillars 
in Solomon's porch, tall and straight. He 
lifted up His voice and cried: "If any man 
thirst, let him come unto me, and drink." — 
Babbling words that no man could understand. 
A glowing light comes into Alceda's eyes. 

Alceda 

Did He say that, Tiberius, did He say that? 
Oh ! That is not folly ! that is not madness ! 

Tiberius 

And could my Alceda comprehend those 
words ? If you are athirst, my Love, I have a 
potion in my lips for you. 

Alceda 

With sweet seriousness. 

O Tiberius, too well I comprehend those 
words! There has ever been a longing — a 
thirst — in my soul: my soul pants as a hart 
panteth after the water-brooks — for something 
—something — to satisfy it — I cannot tell: al- 
ways I have had it — always — always: when I 



44 WITHOUT THE WALLS [act i 

was a little child, as I reached toward the 
miracle of the rosy sunrise — toward the glory 
of the sunset — toward the shining splendour of 
the golden stars — toward the silver mystery 
of the silent moon. When all things beautiful 
spoke to me, when all things musical swept 
through me — the wind in the trees — the song 
of the brook — the solemn swell of the song in 
the Temple as it carried my thoughts away — 
always this thirst for something — I know not 
what. It is like sharp pain — I used to think 
that it was love I waited for, and, at first when 
you came and when you kissed me — I was con- 
tent. 

He attempts to embrace her — she stays him with up- 
lifted hand. 

No — no — not yet — let me tell you all — I want 
you to know my heart — your love did content 
me, but it did not stop that strange thirst within 
my soul. Sometimes— ^even when I am in your 
arms — when I am happiest in you, beyond all 
mortal telling — something rises in my soul — 
some passionate thirst — a longing for that 
which is beyond this earth — for clear water 
for my soul to drink which even you cannot 



ACT i] WITHOUT THE WALLS 45 

give me. It is as though I longed to drink of 
God. Perchance He — this Nazarene — can tell 
me where to find that for which my soul longs- 
even when I am happiest. 

Tiberius 

Tenderly. 

My Flower of the Mountains, that thirst is very 
easy to comprehend. I can explain it to you. 
You were born for freedom, as the birds fly up- 
w^ard, and you are bound in shackles by the 
bondage — the institutions of this cursed coun- 
try; your Church, your Laws, hold you in a 
prison of the spirit, — it is the longing of your 
soul to spread its wings against your heritage. 
I think the Nazarene understands this bondage 
of tradition : He wants to make men free. 

Alceda 
If He could lead me out from the bondage of 
the Church of Israel — and yet, let me keep my 
God — then, would I follow Him. 

Tiberius 
When you are my wife you shall be free as air: 
you may follow Him if you desire. We will 



46 WITHOUT THE WALLS [act i 

hear Him and weigh His words. If they be 
only of Earth, at least they will be a diversion 
to our minds: if He be a Prophet, and has come 
from the Gods, we will learn of Him together. 

Alceda 

Tenderly laying her hand upon Tiberius' arm. 

Tiberius, I often think you are very near to 
God, so well you comprehend. 

Tiberius 

Solemnly. 

When a man loves — he is always near to God. 

The Nurse is heard singing in a high cracked voice. 

Elizabeth 

Singing. 

The little lamb wandered from the fold. 
From the guarding shepherd's eye — ■ 

Alceda 

Excitedly, springing to her feet. 

Quick ! — Quick ! — Tiberius ! — It is the sign — 
my Father is coming down the road! 



ACT i] WITHOUT THE WALLS 47 

Tiberius 

Quietly, 

I will await him here and speak with him. I 
have aught to say to him. 

Alceda 

Eagerly. 

Oh, not now — not to-day— He is very angry — 
I did not tell you what happened this morning, 
before you came — He would kill you. 

Tiberius 
I am a Roman citizen ! 

Alceda 
He does not care. 

Tiberius 

But he knows the consequences — he would not 
chance them. 

Alceda 

Then, he will kill me ! Do not wait, oh, do not 
wait — you may come again, but not to-day — 
Go ! Go, if you love me ! 



48 WITHOUT THE WALLS [act i 

Tiberius 

Rising. 

By that command, I go ! 

Elizabeth 

Singing. 

The little lamb wandered from the fold, 
From the guarding shepherd's eye — 

Alceda 
Quick! The garden gate, — he comes by the 
highway — 

She hurries him to the gate, and unlocks it with a key 
that hangs from her girdle; she opens the door, 
and, in agitation, tries to hurry him out. 

Tiberius 

Pausing on the threshold. 
Beloved, you are mine? 

Alceda 

Trembling. 

For ever and for ever. But wait a few days be- 
fore you face my Father — until this storm is 
past. 



ACT i] WITHOUT THE WALLS 49 

Tiberius ^ 
You will not marry Josephus? 

Alceda 

Never! — Quick, Tiberius! Go; — he comes. 

Exit Tiberius. 
Alceda goes swiftly into the house. 



ACT I 

SCENE III 



ACT I 

SCENE III 

The next day. The Court the same as before. David, 
playing on his flute. Enter Elizabeth. 

Elizabeth 
Still the toot-tooting on that foolish flute? 

David 

Impudently. 

Still the wag- wagging of that foolish tongue? 

Elizabeth 
Have you done your work? 

David 

Do you not see how hard I toil? 

Elizabeth walks over to the seat and picks up a scarf 
and a little bag. 

Elizabeth 
Come, carry these things into the house and tidy 
up the Court — a guest comes, shortly. 

S3 



54 WITHOUT THE WALLS [act i 

David 
Who is it? 

Elizabeth 
Never you mind. 

David 

Who is it? 

Elizabeth 
Josephus. 

David 
Josephus, the Pharisee? I will not tidy up the 
Court for him : I do not like him ! 

Elizabeth 
Like him or no like him, he is a friend of the 
Master. 

David 

Winking. 

He doesn't come here to see the Master. 

Elizabeth 
How do you know? 

David 
He has his ferret eyes on Alceda. 



ACT I] WITHOUT THE WALLS 55 

Elizabeth 

Who cannot resist the opportunity of a little gossip. 
Ha! He wants to marry her. 

David 

Marry her? Marry her? Mighty Moses! 
Do jackals marry nightingales ? 

Elizabeth 

He'll not marry her! be at rest. She'll not 
have him ! 

David 

I will break his precious neck for him before he 

marries her. 

David begins to play upon his flute again. 

Elizabeth 
That flute keeps piping like the wind in winter. 

David, suddenly, is attracted by something in the grass : 
he gets up and looks at it and when Elizabeth's 
head is turned he picks up a lizard and mischie- 
vously holds it behind him and walks over to 
where Elizabeth has taken a seat. He leans over 
her shoulder from the back and says: 



56 WITHOUT THE WALLS [act i 

David 

Don't be cross, Elizabeth. 

At the same time he puts the lizard on her hack where 
it begins to crawl up toward her neck. 

Elizabeth 
I'll not be cross if you'll behave yourself. 

David 
Shall I tell you a story, Elizabeth? 

Elizabeth 

Gruffly. 

Go on. 

David 

Once there was a lizard — a nice, soft, slimy, 
fat, green lizard — alas ! he was possessed of a 
devil. 

Elizabeth 
Hear the boy ! It makes my ears ache to hear 
him talk. 

David 

I'll be silent, then. 

Elizabeth 
Go on about your lizard. 



ACT I] WITHOUT THE WALLS 57 

David 

This lizard was quite mad : he could not see the 
country round about because the walls were too 
high and shut in the garden: at last one day 
he saw a high hill — so high that he thought he 
could see the world from the top of it, so he 
began to climb and climb and crawl and crawl. 

David is watching the lizard as it begins to crawl up 
Elizabeth's back. 

Elizabeth 
Why are you looking at me like that? 

David 

Laughing. 

Because you are so beautiful. 

Elizabeth 
You little black-eyed viper! 

David 

The lizard climbed and climbed and crawled 
and crawled. The hill was very slippery and 
hard to travel : he knew that it was a dangerous 
hill but high up at the top of it he saw some- 



58 WITHOUT THE WALLS [act i 

thing all soft and white — not white exactly but 
yellow-white. It made the lizard very curious 
to see what it was: he said within himself, "If 
I can reach that white landing place, perhaps, 
I can see the world," so he moved his slimy little 
green legs faster and faster — but a lizard is 
very slow and the little white place looked miles 
away : he did not know what it was — ^but I will 
tell you what it was — it was the neck of 
Elizabeth! 

Elizabeth jumps up and screams and begins to try to 
reach her back. 

Elizabeth 
Where is it? Where is it? Take it off — ^take 
it off ! Oh, you young devil, take it off ! 
She jumps around in a wild way in trying to get rid 
of the lizard which she cannot reach: at that 
moment she feels the feet of the lizard upon her 
neck. David throws back his head and laughs 
loudly. 

David 

Singing. 

Oh, joyous the hours. 

That you dance 'mid the flowers. 

Rajah! Rajah! 



ACT i] WITHOUT THE WALLS 59 

Elizabeth continues to jump around as she throws off 
the lizard: then she runs after David who, laugh- 
ing, escapes her: he runs out of the main gate of 
the garden. Elizabeth with lifted hand runs after 
him. 

Elizabeth 

In a loud threatening voice. 

You son of Beelzebub ! 

At this moment Josephus, very stern and solemn, enters 
the gate. 

Josephus 
Woman! Is this a seemly welcome to a 
friend's house? 

Elizabeth 

Making a low obeisance. 

Forgive me, Sir. I did not know of your 
presence. 

Josephus 
Is it your custom to stand at the gate of the 
house and cry aloud to Beelzebub? 

Elizabeth 
It is my custom to chase devilish boys out of 
the gate. 



60 WITHOUT THE WALLS [act i 

JOSEPHUS 

I saw no boy. 

Elizabeth 
He ran out as you came in. 

JOSEPHUS 

I saw no boy. 

Elizabeth 

Startled, 

He vanished like smoke! Verily he is a son 
of Satan. 

JOSEPHUS 

Where is your Mistress? Your Master told 
me I should find her in the Court. 

Elizabeth 

It is beyond the hour that she was to come into 
the Court. I will tell her that you await her 
here. 

Elizabeth goes into the house to find Alceda. 

JOSEPHUS 

Alceda is coming: her beauty moves the slug- 
gish blood within my veins. I would hasten 



ACT I] WITHOUT THE WALLS 61 

the time to possess her: a kiss from her ruby 
lips will warm my blood — the thought of it 
stirs that cold stream even now: and her soft 
hands toying about my neck will quicken my 
dulled pulses : she will be hard to manage for 
she inherits high spirits as well as fair flesh- 
but I will not spare the rod when it is neces- 
sary and if the rod upon her flesh fails to do 
its work — (he smiles) then I have a rod to 
hold over her spirit that will not fail. Her 
Father says she does not know — ^but that igno- 
rance shall be ended soon. Upon her bridal 
night, after I have had my pleasure with her, 
I will tell her the ghastly tale: it will terrify 
her, and serve to keep her virtuous. 
Enter Alceda. 

Alceda 

Proudly. 

My Father said that you would speak with me. 

JOSEPHUS 
Bowing low— in a patronising voice. . 

You know the purport of my coming ! I have 
decided to make you my wife and the mother 
of my sons ! 



62 WITHOUT THE WALLS [act i 

Alceda 

Verily, a weighty decision for a man — without 
consideration of the woman he has chosen. 

Josephus puts his hand into his garments and brings 
out a string of magnificent rubies, which he offers 
to Alceda. 

Josephus 

Here are some baubles for you to play with, 
Maiden; they are worth a king's ransom. 

Alceda* s hands drop motionless to her sides; she looks 
at Josephus with quiet scorn. 

Alceda 

I give you thanks, but I may not take the 
jewels! They are for bartering; I am not a 
thing offered in the market-place, I am not 
sold for rubies 1 
Josephus looks at Alceda in surprise and anger. 

Josephus 

They are not for bartering; they are for the 
wife of Josephus: and many others wait for 
her like them, save in colour — diamonds, sap- 
phires, and many stones of flashing beauty. 



ACT i] WITHOUT THE WALLS 63 

Alceda 
Alceda has naught to do with the wife of 
Josephus nor with her jewels. 

JOSEPHUS 

Alceda and my wife are the same — by the word 
of Jahdiel. Come, come, my beauty, give me 
those lips. 

Alceda 
Not if I lengthen my life — ^by so doing. 
He steps toward her. 

Josephus 
I will not longer wait for the kiss that I desire. 

Alceda 
If you reach my lips they will be the cold lips 
of a corpse. 

Josephus 
You refuse to be my wife? 

Alceda 
I was not made for dotards — nor for those who 
have sacrificed for years to a carnal god. 

Josephus' eyes narrow; he looks more like a ferret than 
ever. 



64 WITHOUT THE WALLS [act i 

JOSEPHUS 

You are brazen for one so young. 
Alceda 

With new dignity. 

You take liberties — for one so old ! 

Josephus 

With venom in his speech. 

It is not for you to refuse an honourable mate: 
the daughter of Rachel the sinner may not pick 
and choose I 

Alceda 

Poignantly. 

My Mother — ? 

Josephus 

In a snarling tone. 
Ay, your Mother! 

Alceda 

Slowly, as though speaking against her will. 
What of my Mother? 

Josephus 

Looking at Alceda narrowly and speaking slowly. 



ACT I] WITHOUT THE WALLS 65 

I will tell you of your Mother: she broke the 
Law, she was stoned without the Walls: she 
lay a bruised and bleeding mass for vultures — 
as was meet for such an one — and yet I will 
marry her daughter! 

Alceda puts her hand to her heart, and leans against a 
tree. 

Alceda 

In a tense voice. 

O God in Heaven — it is not true ! 

JOSEPHUS 

Ay, it is true. Her daughter is disgraced— 
but I will take her to wife, for her Father's 
sake, {aside) and for her beauty's sake— she is 
very desirable. 

Alceda 

O God in Heaven, can it be true? 

JOSEPHUS 

Ay, it is true, I tell you; I was there! I 
watched it all. I saw the deed of justice done 
— I saw her die— it was a sight of terror and 
of blood: the beauty that had led to her undo- 
ing was a bruised and bleeding mass of — 



66 WITHOUT THE WALLS [act i 

Alceda starts out of her lethargy, a fury blazes within 
her: she looks upon Josephus as though she would 
scorch him. 

Alceda 

In a tone of ringing command. 
Out of my sight, — you fiend of Hell ! Before 
I pluck from out your head the wanton eyes that 
looked upon that scene — if it were true ! 

Josephus 

Shrugging his shoulders. 

Ah ! I go, with thanksgiving to be rid of you ! 
I should have known that a serpent's offspring 
will always hiss at last! 

Alceda 
Go, you whited sepulchre, full of stale and 
filthy sins ! 

Exit Josephus : enter Elizabeth. 
Alceda stands as though turned to stone — motionless, 
silent. 

Elizabeth 

What have they done to you, my lamb? 
Alceda does not answer; Elizabeth goes up to her, takes 
her hands and chafes them. 



ACT i] WITHOUT THE WALLS 67 

Speak to me, my lambkin, speak to me! — I 
nursed you on my breast. 

Alceda 
As though in a dream, to herself. 
Rachel — my Mother — a sinner ! — Stoned with- 
out the Walls — stoned without the Walls ! 

Elizabeth 

In a voice of terror. 

God of my Fathers — who has told you this 
thing? 

Alceda turns quickly and seizing Elizabeth's arm, holds 
it as if in a vice. 

Alceda 
Is it true? — Elizabeth, is it true? 
Elizabeth stands silent with bowed head. 

Alceda 

In a tone of despair. 

You dare not lie ! — It is true ! — and I — and I 

— am — Oh, Tiberius! 

Alceda throws herself upon the ground, buries her face 
on her arms and begins to sob. Elizabeth goes to 
her and bends over her. 



68 WITHOUT THE WALLS [act I 

Elizabeth 
Hush! my little lamb, hush you. Do not lie 
upon the hard ground. Come to my arms. 

Alceda still sobs and pays no attention to Elizabeth. 
Elizabeth sits on one of the marble seats and looks 
at her in despair. 

Come, and I will tell you of your Mother! 

Alceda stops sobbing and rises quickly: she runs to 
Elizabeth, falls on her knees, clasping her hands 
on Elizabeth's 'lap. 

Alceda 
Tell me ! You never would tell me. I teased 
you so often, but you never would. 

Elizabeth 
I never could! You did not know the awful 
truth and your Father bade me be silent, under 
pain of parting from you and, therefore, I 
never spoke. 

Alceda 
Quick ! 1 wait. Tell me, now ! 

Elizabeth 
I came with your Mother from her Father's 
house in Lebanon, when she was brought to 



ACT I] WITHOUT THE WALLS 69 

Jahdiel — a bride — and I was with her to the 
end. 

Alceda 
Tell me of her! 

Elizabeth 
She was as beautiful as night: her eyes were 
like twin stars: her lips were like scarlet ber- 
ries in the sunshine, and they laughed always. 
She was a singing bird, and her voice echoed 
through the halls of the house and through the 
courts, from early morning to evening, until 
Jahdiel silenced her. When you were coming, 
a new joy possessed her — she was very glad. 
Sometimes, she would throw herself into my 
arms and say: "Elizabeth, perhaps my child 
may be the Messiah — " and then we would 
talk and dream of so great a glory. 

Alceda 
Sorrowfully. 

And when I came, I was only a girl, after all. 

Elizabeth 
You were only a girl after all. That was a 
thing which Jahdiel could not forgive. Time 



70 WITHOUT THE WALLS [act i 

went on; a stranger came from Damascus, he 
was often at the house : Rachel talked less and 
less to me; she seemed to have a secret which 
she kept hidden in her heart. Jahdiel grew 
more and more pitiless to her — and then the 
end! 

Alceda 
Tell me of the end ! 

Elizabeth 
No, my lamb, you do not want to hear of that. 

Alceda 
It is of that I want to hear ! 

Elizabeth 

I cannot tell you, for I know it not! I was 
not there. The last I saw of her, great men 
of the Synagogue were on either side of her: 
they led her out through that gate (pointing to 
the large gate) . Jahdiel stood watching. My 
heart yearned over her and I started to go to 
her, but Jahdiel held me back and said in stern 
tones: "Hence, woman! Rachel has broken 
the law and if you would keep the law, yourself, 
you will not countenance her nor speak to her, 



ACT I] WITHOUT THE WALLS 71 

but let her bear the burden of her sin." Your 
Mother turned and faced me where I stood. I 
shall never forget the look in her eyes — it was 
the look of death in life, but there was not a 
trace of fear. With a loud voice, she cried: 
''Elizabeth, your promise! Take care of my 
Alceda!" Then she walked through the gate 
with head high lifted: and I went into the 
house, and took you into my arms, and prayed 
to the great Jehovah that I might be a mother 
to the little motherless child. 

Alceda 
And you have been a mother to me, always, my 
Elizabeth ! {In a low tone. ) Was she stoned, 
Elizabeth ? Was my Mother really stoned ? 

Elizabeth 

I suppose so, I never asked! They told me 

she had sinned with the man she loved — ^the 
man who loved her ! 

Alceda 

Sobbing. 

O my Mother ! My Mother ! My poor, beau- 



72 WITHOUT THE WALLS [act i 

tiful Mother! (After a pause.) Where was 
he, Elizabeth — the man she loved? — the man 
who brought her to that pass? Did he not 
fight to save her? — Was he not stoned beside 
her? 

Elizabeth 
No, no, my child. Men are not often stoned 
for love — it is the women who are always 
stoned for love! 

Alceda 
Is it not as wicked for a man to sin, as it is for 
a woman to sin? 

Elizabeth 
That is a thing I have never been able to un- 
derstand. I have pondered it long; the man 
usually escapes: it seems to me more wicked 
for the man — ^he is the one who tempts. He 
whispers in her ear, like Satan, things that the 
woman has never thought of: but the priests 
say not so. Man is man and woman is 
woman 1 

Alceda 
I do not think men tempt us. It is only that 



ACT I] WITHOUT THE WALLS 73 

they are strong we trust them utterly. Love 
is so very sweet ! 

Elizabeth 
Ah! you do not know men! They are all 
alike : their hearts are evil ! 

Alceda 
And women are their mothers! If men are 
evil, it is woman's fault. Why does she not 
make men different? — she has the shaping of 
them. But, oh, it is hard for woman to be 
alone in the stoning! 

Alceda raises her head and after a brief pause says 
with a light breaking over her face. 

There is justice in the great injustice, after 
all! The apocalyptic glory comes to woman: 
she is the mother of sons, the ecstasy is hers, 
and as she has the greater glory she also must 
keep the greater care, she should also have the 
finer virtue. I have always thought that when 
I had sons — but now, oh, now — I must forgo 
my life ! 

Elizabeth 
Do you think you must, my lamb ? 



74 WITHOUT THE WALLS [act i 

Alceda 

In deep sorrow. 

Yes — I am a child of my Mother! I share 
her punishment! I am cut off from all 
things ! Elizabeth, I must go to meet Tiberius 
and tell him we must part! No one can bear 
that message to him, — I must take it to him 
myself. I will meet him on the way. He is 
coming to the house to-morrow. Will you 
watch in the Court for me whilst I am gone? 

Elizabeth 
I will watch, my lamb ! If you must go, you 
must! {Aside.) It were well that she should 
be saved from Rome! {Alceda sobs.) Do 
not weep, my Nursling! Do not weep— all 
will be well ! 

Alceda 

Looking up through her tears. 

Do all men blame women ? Do all men think 
that the woman is to blame, and that she should 
be stoned? 

Elizabeth 
Our Father Adam told Jehovah that the 



ACT I] WITHOUT THE WALLS 75 

woman had tempted him, and since the time of 
Adam all men have said the same thing. 

Alceda 
Aside. 

O Tiberius ! How can I bear your condemna- 
tion of my Mother, when I tell you of her sin? 



ACT II 
SCENE I 



ACT II 
SCENE I 

The next day: noon. A resting seat in a grove of 
trees, on the edge of the road, about half a furlong 
from the House of Jahdiel, the Pharisee. 

Tiberius is sitting on the seat, and looking down the 
road. 

Tiberius 

A messenger met me here, and stopped my 
speeding. He bade me wait; he said that 
Alceda would come to me. It were better that 
I had gone to her Father's house, but I obey, 
and await her coming: when I have talked 
with her then will I go and face him to say 
my say — this time I will have my own way 
— it is the wiser. 

Alceda comes down the road, closely veiled; Tiberius 
rises and walks toward her, with outstretched hand. 

Tiberius 
Beloved ! 

79 



80 WITHOUT THE WALLS [act n 

Alceda 

hi a dead, colourless voice. 

I have come to tell you you must never enter 
my Father's house — you must never ask him 
for me — there is no need. 

Tiberius 

In a tone of anxiety. 

My Flower of the Mountains, my Heart of 
Hearts — what has befallen you? 

Alceda 
I have dared all things to meet you, here — 
you must not see my Father — ^there is no need, 
Tiberius, we must part ! 

Tiberius 

Tossing his head proudly. 

Part? — When the sun falls from heaven and 
all the stars are out of place, then shall we 
part ! 

Alceda 

In a lifeless tone of deep sorrow. 

My sun has fallen from heaven, Tiberius, and 
all my stars are out of place ! 



ACT n] WITHOUT THE WALLS 81 

Tiberius 
^Tis then you need me, little Flower. 

Alceda 

Tensely, still in a colourless tone as though she had 
schooled herself for this moment. 

Tiberius, my Mother — my Mother — 

Tiberius 
What of your Mother? 

Alceda 
O Tiberius, she was a sinner. 

Tiberius 

Reassuringly. 

Then she but shared the lot of the world : we 

are all sinners, Alceda. 

Alceda 

With wild-eyed terror. 

My Mother was the worst of sinners — Tiberius 

— I have come to tell you a dreadful thing — 

Oh ! how can I tell it — help me, Jehovah ! My 

Mother was stoned without the Walls of 

Jerusalem. 



82 WITHOUT THE WALLS [act n 

Tiberius 

Quietly. 

And if she were? 

Alceda looks at him eagerly, surprised at his quiet tone. 

Alceda 
I am her daughter — 

Tiberius 

Taking her hand. 

My lovely Lily of the Mountains, come home 
to my heart! 

Alceda 

Despairingly. 

Tiberius, you do not understand — you do not 
know what that means. 

Tiberius 

I do understand — I know too well. It means 
the cursed cruelty of Israel. 

Alceda 
It means that I must give you up. 



ACT n] WITHOUT THE WALLS 83 

Tiberius 

Tenderly. 

And do you think that you can give me up? 

Alceda 
Oh, how can I! But it must be. 

Tiberius 
Have you forgotten your word, Alceda — "for 
ever and for ever"? 

Alceda 

In a tone of deep sorrow. 

Forgotten? — O Tiberius! For ever and for 
ever I will love you — when the firmament has 
been rolled together as a scroll — when eternity 
is past I will love you — but I will never 
bear you sons to read that record in their 
Mother's House! 

Tiberius 
Proudly. 

My sons have Roman records to read; and in 
the eyes of their Mother, they will see God. 



84 WITHOUT THE WALLS [act n 

Alceda 
Tiberius, — where learned you your grace? 

Tiberius 
From you, Beloved, you are embodied grace. 

Alceda 

Sorrowfully. 

You must not love me — I am the daughter of 
a sinner, 

Tiberius 
"/ must not love you''? I love you more than 
ever, if that be possible. I will never let you 
go. 

Alceda 
But there is a blight upon me — my Mother was 
stoned without the Walls ! 

Tiberius 

Somewhat sternly. 

Hush, Alceda ! If that be so, it was from some 
unjust suspicion — the cruel bitterness of your 
hard Mosaic Law; it was the ruthlessness of 
men : it was no fault of your Mother. 



ACT n] WITHOUT THE WALLS 85 

Alceda 

Looking up with eager hope in her eyes. 

Do you think that? Do you really think she 
may have been innocent? 

Tiberius 
O you who are whiter than lilies — ^purer than 
new-fallen snow, I have but to look in your 
face to know it, I have but to look in your heart 
to be sure of it. Your blessed Mother ! 

Alceda looks at him gratefully, adoringly — then speaks 
hesitatingly. 

Alceda 
My Father thought she should be stoned. 

Tiberius 
Where was his mercy? 

Alceda 
Ah — where? 

Tiberius 
When a man forgets his mercy, he is no longer 
just. 



85 WITHOUT THE WALLS [act n 

Alceda 
O Tiberius, what if it were true? 

Tiberius 
It was a passing shadow, Alceda: sin is but a 
shadow : the light of the Omnipotent dispels all 
darkness. 

He puts his hand under her chin and turns her face 
upward. 

My Love, lift up your eyes to me, so! 
Now, listen and obey me, go home and rest 
— to-morrow I will come to meet your Father — 
then will I claim you by the force of Rome ! 

Alceda 

Frightened. 

Oh! never that way! 

Tiberius 
No, not that way, you are right; no public 
means for private ends. I will claim you by 
the power of my love! 

Alceda 
My Father knows no more of love than a blind 
man knows of the sun! 



ACT n] WITHOUT THE WALLS 87 

Tiberius 
I will find a way to open his eyes! You are 
mine by all the powers of life and death — 
and after death! I may not kiss you, here. 
We are upon the open high-road. But my 
spirit kisses yours. 

Alceda 
Tiberius, you have comforted me! Our 
mighty Prophet said that God comforted him, 
"as one whom his mother comforteth" — I never 
found it so with God, even though I asked 
and asked of Him — He is so far away — ^but 
you comfort me even so. 

Tiberius 
Tenderly. 

It may be that your God sent me to you to do 
it for Him. 

Alceda 
Tiberius, I think that may be true! 

Tiberius 

Thoughtfully. 

The Nazarene savs it is true. 



88 WITHOUT THE WALLS [act n 

Alceda 

Eagerly. 

What says He? 

Tiberius 
He says we show God to one another, that 
God is in us, and when we show kindness and 
mercy, and when we give comfort and help 
to another then we reveal Him. 

Alceda 

Thoughtfully. 

This Jesus says very wonderful things. 

Tiberius 
He is as keen as an eagle, as wise as a serpent, 
as gentle as a dove ! I wish I could make up 
my mind about Him. 

Alceda 
If He is all those things, is it not enough to 
hear His words, and to remember them? 

Tiberius 

My Minerva, you also are very wise: that is 
true. 



ACT n] WITHOUT THE WALLS 89 

From time to time in every land, in every re- 
ligion, messengers have come from the Gods 
to testify to the great verities of life eternal. 
Certain of our teachers and our philosophers 
have made the everlasting truths more clear 
to us. Now comes this Nazarene with His 
philosophy of renewal, of rebirth. He is so 
chaste, so pure, so consecrated. He can divine 
the truth: He knows that sin is but a passing 
shadow, not a finality; He knows the future is 
ours: we are the children of to-morrow; we 
should never be stoned for our yesterdays — if 
we have repented of them. 
Nature teaches us a great lesson — every morn- 
ing, after the dark night, the sun rises and it 
is a new day; and always, after the darkness 
of sin, there comes the forgiveness of the Most 
High, the great Creator of the Universe, to 
absolve us — and it is a new day for the soul. 
I am convinced that your Mother broke no law 
— ^that she committed no sin; but even if she 
did, I know she, at once, repented : the sin rests 
upon those who stoned her. The Nazarene 
would not have stoned her: He would never 
stone a sinner. Every time I have heard Him, 



90 WITHOUT THE WALLS [act n 

He has spoken of forgiveness — forgiveness: 
He would gather all sinners in His arms, "as 
a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings" 
— a striking metaphor He used the other day. 

Alceda 
* Greatly agitated. 

Compassion — comprehension — forgiveness 
— living water ! Tiberius, I will follow Him ! 

Tiberius 
I am not yet persuaded. I am a man and a 
Roman, I am partly Greek — I must weigh well 
before I decide: but this one thing I do know, 
the man is truel 

Alceda 
Ah ! He is true 1 He is divine. 

Tiberius 
Farewell, Alceda. It is not well for you to 
linger longer here. To-morrow, I will come 
to demand my bride — and then — to Rome, to 
comfort, happiness and joy! 
He points to a -flowering hush near by. 
I may not give you those glowing flowers of 



ACT n] WITHOUT THE WALLS 91 

the East in your new home, but violets are 
sprinkled in the grass, and in my garden there 
are fragrant, fragile blossoms that will crown 
your hair — when you are weary of jewels. 

Alceda 

Remembering the rubies. 

Jewels? — they are for bondwomen! 

Tiberius 

My Stone of Crystal without flaw, when any 
jewel comes near you, its lustre is dimmed! 

Alceda 
Farewell, Tiberius — ^I am comforted! 

Tiberius 

In a tone of command. 

And you must be also strengthened. Look in 
my eyes, Alceda! Remember, you are the 
betrothed wife of a Roman : the power of Rome 
is behind you and about you ! You are not to 
fear what these Hebrews may do to you. 



92 WITHOUT THE WALLS [act n 

Alceda 

You do not know my Father, Jahdiel, the 
Pharisee! 

She gives him her hand, then turns and walks quickly 
down the road: Tiberius looks after her, with 
great tenderness in his eyes. 

Tiberius 

Beside the Roman maidens with their worldly 
wiles, she is like one of the white star flowers 
that grow amid the snows, on the summit of 
the Apennines! 



ACT II 
SCENE II 



ACT II 

SCENE II 

The same day, later. The Court in JahdieVs House: 

Elizabeth, sitting at her work. 
Enter Jahdiel. 

Jahdiel 
Where is your Mistress? 
Elizabeth does not answer. 

Jahdiel 
Where is Alceda? 
Elizabeth does not answer. 

Jahdiel 

Angrily. 

Are you a Hebrew woman or a mummy of the 

Nile, you plague-spot of an hireling? 

Elizabeth 
Let me alone until I swallow down my spittle. 

95 



96 WITHOUT THE WALLS [act n 

I cannot answer when your questions fly swifter 
than a weaver's shuttle! 

Jahdiel 

I have asked you but one question. Where is 
Alceda? 

Elizabeth 
Perchance, she is in the house. 

Jahdiel 

With a snarl. 

Perchance, she is in Sheol! You have ceased 
to guard her. Your usefulness in my house is 
ended. When the Passover is finished, you 
will be turned out of doors. 
The Nurse gives a long, low moan. 

Elizabeth 
I have held her on my knees, I have held her 
at my breast, I have taught her little feet to 
walk, I have taught her little lips to speak. - 

Jahdiel 

Severely. 

You have taught her little feet to walk on the 



ACT n] WITHOUT THE WALLS 97 

highways, you have taught her little lips to 
speak blasphemy ! 

Elizabeth 

Protestingly. 

Blasphemy? Now, by the Lord God of 
Hosts, that I have not ! 

Jahdiel 

I have heard to-day from Josephus, who heard 
it from another, that she has been seen gad- 
ding about after the accursed Nazarene, and 
echoing some of His pestilential talk. 

Elizabeth 

Alarmed. 

Jehovah forbid ! That must be stopped ! 

Jahdiel 

Grimly. 

I will stop it, have no fear ! Go into the house 
and attend to your business! 
Elizabeth hesitates. 

When I command, you are to obey! 

Exit Elizabeth. 



98 WITHOUT THE WALLS [act n 

Jahdiel 

The lingering perfidy of Rachel haunts this 
house: the child, the nurse — all are tainted by 
the poison of her trail ! 

The grating sound of a key, turning in the lock, is 
heard. 

Jahdiel 
Ha ! Ha ! I will hide and keep my watch. 

He goes behind an oleander bush. The gate opens 
slowly; Alceda, closely veiled, enters and closes 
the gate behind her; she locks it with the key at 
her girdle; she looks around the Court, then throws 
back her veil. 

Alceda 

Ah! I am safe! 

Jahdiel springs out from the oleander bush and grasps 
her arm with a grip of steel. 

Jahdiel 
Yea, verily, from henceforth you are safe ! 

Alceda, frightened, turns very pale and sways for a 
moment: then she rallies and speaks with the new 
dignity born of her hour with Tiberius. 



ACT n] WITHOUT THE WALLS 99 

Alceda 

My wrist is not a turning pin to wrench — let it 
free! 

Jahdiel 

Still holding the wrist. 

What I do, I do! 

Alceda stands still: Jahdiel still holds her wrist. 

Alceda 

Calmly. 

I await your words. 

Jahdiel 
You have outraged my friend, Josephus. 

Alceda 

Quietly. 

I have prevented his outraging me. 

Jahdiel 
He would have wed you. 

Alceda 
That may never be. 



100 WITHOUT THE WALLS [act n 

Jahdiel 

We will see about that! You have been to 
meet Tiberius upon the highway. 

Alceda 

Tiberius is my betrothed husband — he had 
your consent to woo me — it is fitting we should 
meet. 

Jahdiel 
You are to give him up! 

Alceda 
That I will never do ! 

Jahdiel 

Furthermore, you have been to hear this pesti- 
lential Nazarene, who blasphemingly declares 
that He is God! 

Alceda 

Fearlessly. 

Yes, I have been to hear Him — if He be not 
God, He is a messenger from God, and I desire 
to learn of Him. 



ACT n] WITHOUT THE WALLS 101 

Jahdiel 
Silence, or I will strike you where you stand! 

Alceda 
With cool tensity. 

Not again ! 

Jahdiel 

Again, and again, and again! 

Alceda 
Let me go — Father. 

Jahdiel 

Not until you have answered me. Hark to my 
word, if you have ears to hear. I have a bal- 
ance to strike with you. If you will never see 
Tiberius again, if you will wed Josephus — who 
is generous enough to take you, even yet, for 
he knows that he can tame you — if you will 
give me your promise never to see that Naza- 
rene blasphemer again — then I will let you go ! 

Alceda 

Very quietly, but with tensity. 

None of these three things will I do I 



102 WITHOUT THE WALLS [act n 

Jahdiel 

With concentrated fury. 

Then I will not let you go! You have defied 
me and I will give you measure for measure! 

He grasps her other wrist; a great trembling shakes 
her: Elizabeth appears — she keeps the trees be- 
tween herself and Jahdiel but listens and watches 
with agitation. 

Alceda 

Terrified. 

Father — whither will you take me? 

Jahdiel 

Within the house there is the little cell which I 
had built for the unruly servants. There you 
shall stay until you have found a better mind, 
a better answer! 

He drags her off: she is as a thistle-down before the 
blast. 

Alceda 

In a voice of despair. 
Tiberius ! 



ACT II] WITHOUT THE WALLS 103 

Jahdiel 

Laughing snarlingly. 

Let be! We shall see if Tiberius will come to 
you! 

Jahdiel drags Alceda off. Exeunt Jahdiel and Alceda. 

Elizabeth 
God of my Fathers! She is lost, my little 
lamb: gone to that foul cell! I cannot com- 
fort her — I cannot reach her. If I had spoken 
Jahdiel would have banished me and I must 
linger near for any chance to help Alceda. 
What shall I do ! What shall I do ! 

She sinks weeping on Alceda' s seat and passes her hand 
lovingly over the lute. 

Elizabeth 
O little lute — all silent now — your strings will 
break even as my heart breaks. 

Enter David: he creeps silently through the Court up 
to Elizabeth and begins to laugh. 

David 

You fat-foolishness — who is a heathen now, 
bending the knee to idols? You don't bend 



104 WITHOUT THE WALLS [act n 

your knee because you can't — you're too fat — 
but you are worshipping that lute as much as I 
did. 

Elizabeth 
You son of Beelzebub! My heart is broken! 

David 

Laughing. 

Your heart is broken, is it? I'll warrant me it 
is for some gay young Israelite. 

Elizabeth 

Moaning. 

Oh, Alceda! Alceda! 

David 

Startled. 

What's the matter with Alceda? 

Elizabeth 

Sobbing. 

•He has killed her! He has killed her! 



ACT n] WITHOUT THE WALLS 105 

David 

Impatiently. 

Killed her?— Killed Alceda— Who?— Where? 

— When? — tell me at once. 

Elizabeth 

Lifting her hand protestingly. 

Hush! Hush! 

David 

If you don't tell me this minute, I will scream. 
He begins to scream. 

Elizabeth 

Eagerly. 

In the name of Jacob, hush! You will stir 
up a commotion and all will be lost. If you 
are quiet we may save her. I will tell you all. 
Come near, sit at my feet, give me your ear — 
perchance you can help. 

David 

Anxiously. 

Save her? Is there danger? 

Elizabeth 
Ah ! You begin to believe me. 



106 WITHOUT THE WALLS [act n 

David 

Quick! You fat-foolishness! You are 
slower than the snails that crawl upon the wall. 
Elizabeth continues to sob. 

Elizabeth 

'Tis no good to tell you — your brains are mixed 
with mud. 

David 

Ingratiatingly. 

Oh, come, Elizabeth! You are not so very 
slow after all and you are not so very fat. 
Why do you cry? Tell me, you quick Eliza- 
beth — you thin Elizabeth! Please tell me. 

Elizabeth 

Despairingly in a tense voice. 

He has taken her! — Jahdiel has taken her! — 
and locked her in the cell beneath the eaves. 

David 

Starting up. 

Alceda, my Mistress ? My beautiful Mistress ? 



ACT n] WITHOUT THE WALLS 107 

Elizabeth 
Hush! Hush! What shall we do? 

David 

Suspiciously. 

You are not playing any sorry game with me? 

Elizabeth 

Indignantly, through her sobs. 

Do I cry for a joke? Would I play a game 
with death? 

David 
We will save her — trust me! 

Elizabeth 
How? 

David 
I know a way to open locks. 

Elizabeth 
Drying her eyes. 

I'll wager you know how to open locks. You 
were ever a sly one and a sharp one ! 



108 WITHOUT THE WALLS [act n 

David 

It is well just now that I am! We must bide 
our time: I must study the door and the lock 
whilst you watch that human devil. 

Elizabeth 

Jahdiel is a devil without doubt, but it is too 
good for him to call him human. 

David 

Come, we will go and plan the escape at once 



at least, to-morrow, when all is made 
ready. 



ACT II 
SCENE ni 



ACT II 

SCENE III 

The next day. The Court, the same as before. 

Jahdiel, the Pharisee, splendidly attired in robes of 
ceremony, Tiberius, the Roman, in the dress of a 
noble Roman Centurion — are seated on a marble 
seat. 

Jahdiel 

With honeyed sweetness. 
You desire speech of me? 

Tiberius 
Speech of great import to myself — and you! 

Jahdiel 

Looking at him narrowly. 

Peradventure, you are concerned with an affair 
of state? 

Tiberius 

Rather an affair of the heart. 
Ill 



112 WITHOUT THE WALLS [act n 

Jahdiel 
Hearts do not lie in my jurisdiction. 

Tiberius 

Wherefore, we will not dwell upon that issue. 
I would speak with you on a question of faith 
in dealing. 

Jahdiel 
Ay. 

Tiberius 

I have heard it rumoured that Pharisees devour 
widows' houses, that they grind down those 
who trust in them, and that their word is a 
reed to be broken, a slight thing to be snapped. 

Jahdiel 

With menace in his tone. 

The house of a Pharisee is scarce a fitting 
place to echo the lying buzz of busybodies con- 
cerning Pharisees! 

Tiberius 

With marked politeness. 

Sir, it is the fitting place to repeat those things 



ACT n] WITHOUT THE WALLS 113 

as idle tales which I condemn. I tell it that 
I may, also, tell you that Tiberius believes it 
not- — he would resent the rumour. 

Jahdiel 

Sarcastically. 

Most wise and generous Roman! 
Tiberius 

With deference. 

I am convinced — whatever men may say to 
the contrary — that with a Pharisee, a bargain is 
a bargain, a promise is a promise, in Judea as 
in Rome. 

Jahdiel 

Sarcastically. 

Your discernment is most excellent: surely 
wisdom will die with you! 

Tiberius 

With dignity. 

You promised me your daughter — five months 
gone by. 



114 WITHOUT THE WALLS [act n 

Jahdiel 
With crafty gentleness. 

You, who are so wise, know well, Sir, I made 
no promises! I but said that you might woo 
my daughter and that perhaps you might wed' 
her: there is a difference. 

Tiberius 

Hiding the rising anger under a most courteous ex- 
terior. 

You meant that I might dangle as a carp upon 
a hook, whilst you were testing the stream for 
other fish? 

Jahdiel 

With a most ingratiating manner. 

Sir, you do me wrong ! I but held a possibility 
before your eyes — and before my own — whilst 
I awaited the event. 

After a moment, he continues with apparent hesitation. 

I will speak truth with you: — I am a Phari- 
see, the strictest of my sect ; I pay my tithes ; I 
am not as other men : the Lord God of Hosts is 
my God. I ask you, as an honourable Roman, 
is it not fitting that I should want my child. 



ACT n] WITHOUT THE WALLS 115 

my one ewe lamb, the sole daughter of my 
House, to wed one whose God is my God, whose 
people are my people? 

Tiberius 
With characteristic honesty. 

'Tis so I should desire for a daughter of my 
own House. 

Jahdiel 

With a marked effort, as though he would be honest 
at any cost. 

There are — there are grave reasons — not for 
your ears; sorrows, which I may not confide 
to a stranger — wherefore I thought that none 
of my people would desire to take my daughter 
to wife: I did not want her to be un wedded, 
because a childless woman is a reproach in 
Israel. Alceda is a maiden of tender heart, 
she will sorely need an husband when I am 
gathered to my Fathers. I thought, if you 
could win her, I might, perchance, consent: I 
had not faced the issue, but before the mat- 
ter w^as accomplished, a mighty man in Israel, 
to my surprise and satisfaction, desired her 



116 WITHOUT THE WALLS [act n 

to wife — and offered me his hand for her. I 
ask you, Sir, in honesty, am I obliged to stay 
committed to a passing possibility? 

Tiberius 

With stern decision. 

wShe shall not wed Josephus! 

Jahdiel 

Looking at him narrowly and unpleasantly. 

How know you it is Josephus ? 
Tiberius 

Controlling himself. 

I know Josephus — he is lean and hungry and 
he has seen Alceda! — he shall not have her! 

Jahdiel 

Smiling sweetly with his lips, with hatred in his eye. 
Doubtless the power of Rome is infinite. 

Tiberius 
I speak not of the power of Rome — I speak of 
my possession of her heart, my claim to her 
hand. 



ACT n] WITHOUT THE WALLS 117 

Jahdiel 

I admit no claim founded on a bare possibility 
— which you interpret as a promise. 

Tiberius 
I beg, Sir, that you will bear with me whilst I 
recount my worth. 

Jahdiel 
Doubtless you are a very noble Roman. 

Tiberius 

With barbed courtesy. 

I mean not my qualities of mind and heart. I 
would recount for your consideration my wealth 
and my power. I have vast estates in Rome 
and in the country round about. I have silver 
untold, and gold uncounted. I have jewels — 

Jahdiel 

Interrupting him with a magnificent air of entire indif- 
ference to material things. 

These weigh not one farthing in the scale. 
You have not the Lord God of Israel on your 
side ! 



118 WITHOUT THE WALLS [act n 

Tiberius 

I have the God of Olympus — and the Roman 
legion. 

Jahdiel 

Smiling grimly. 

A mighty combination, without doubt. 

Tiberius 
What if Alceda should refuse to wed Josephus ? 

Jahdiel 

With an assumption of great surprise. 

That were a possibility of which I had not 
thought. 

Tiberius 

Will you send for her and leave the decision to 
her? 

Jahdiel hesitates — he speaks softly with apparent kind- 
ness and sympathy. 

Jahdiel 

It grieves me to pain your faithful heart — 
but Alceda is sick of a fever. 



ACT n] WITHOUT THE WALLS 119 

Tiberius 

Starting up with alarm. 
Sick? Let me go to her ! 

Jahdiel 

Indulgently. 

The men of our country do not intrude upon 
the privacy of women. 

Tiberius 
Proudly. 

Not even of their betrothed wives? 

Jahdiel 

Sweetly. 

Least of all — if there were any such here. 

Tiberius 
Sir, I consider Alceda my betrothed wife. 

Jahdiel 

Smiling craftily. 

Ah! that is a matter for decision — but later 
on — there will be time — let the matter bide, 



120 WITHOUT THE WALLS [act n 

pending her sickness and the Passover. When 
the Passover is ended, we will talk again. 

Tiberius 

Pleadingly. 

I pray you, tell me, Jahdiel, is Alceda very 
sick? In mercy tell me. 

Jahdiel 

With a gracious manner — as with great kindness. 

Have no fear. It is slight; she is young and 
tender. The thought of Josephus' purpose 
— the mighty mystery of marriage shakes her 
spirit and the sorrow of leaving her Father's 
house: she has a slight fever in her blood; 
it is but a passing thing — complete quiet^is 
her medicine. She will be quickly well again ; 
only she sorely needs rest. Patience, Sir. 
You may trust a loving Father's eye to have a 
watchful care over his ewe lamb ! I will talk 
with you again, after the Passover. 

Tiberius 

With dignity. 

Perchance, I must be content with that. 



ACT n] WITHOUT THE WALLS 121 

Jahdiel 

Softly. 

I fear you must. I will trust you not to dis- 
turb the quiet of these days. When the Pass- 
over is ended, then we will talk. I beg of your 
courtesy not an hour before. 

Tiberius 
And— if Josephus? — 

Jahdiel 

Sir? She is my daughter. Personal affairs 
must wait on the feast of the Passover. Jo- 
sephus would not forget the obligations of his 
sect. Will a Roman be considerate of our 
Laws and wait until the Passover is past? 

Tiberius 

I will wait until the Passover is past — you have 
the word of a Roman — and when the Passover 
is past? 

Jahdiel 
When it is, we will consider. 



122 WITHOUT THE WALLS [act n 

Tiberius 
Farewell, Sir. 

Jahdiel 

Farewell. 

Jahdiel bows very low and leads Tiberius to the gate: 
as he closes the gate after Tiberius he smiles 
craftily: he goes back to his seat and claps his 
hands: a servant enters. 

Jahdiel 
Bring the culprit to me. 

The servant goes out and returns dragging David in 
chains. David looks at Jahdiel defiantly. 

Jahdiel 

Two hours ago I caught you at the door of 
the cell beneath the eaves: you were working 
at the lock. I had no time then: I ask you 
now — what were you doing ? 

David 

I will tell no lies: I was trying to open the 
door to save my Mistress. 



ACT n] WITHOUT THE WALLS 1 23 

Jahdiel 

Smiling grimly. 

To save your Mistress? Indeed! Did you 
consider that you might lose yourself? 

David 

I care not for myself! You may hew me to 
atoms— hack me in pieces, yet would I serve 
her. 

Jahdiel 
I will cast you out where you can serve neither 
yourself nor her. 

David 

Defiantly. 

If the Light of this dwelling is gone I do not 
care whether or not I stay in it or whether I 
am cast out. 

Jahdiel 

Savagely. 

You will go with a sorry back that has been 
beaten with many stripes ! 



124 WITHOUT THE WALLS [act n 

David 

Proudly. 

I should rather have the hand that turned the 
key upon my Mistress smite me than have it 
stroke me ! 

Jahdiel 

Firmly to the servant. 

After he has been beaten with many stripes 
cast him from out the gates — a penniless beg- 
gar. 

David 
Each lash will be borne for her whom my heart 
honours ! 

Jahdiel 
Perchance, the stripes will be unto death! 

David 

The Mosaic Law protects me, but if your wrath 
defies the Law then will I gladly die ! 

Jahdiel 
Silence ! What know you of the Law? 
To the servant. 
Take the offender away — you have my orders ! 



ACT III 

SCENE I 



ACT III 

SCENE I 
Three Days Later 

A bare stone cell in the house of Jahdiel. There is an 
open window with heavy bars at the opening and 
a stout door; a mattress of straw is in a corner; 
there are two rude chairs and a small table. 

Alceda stands looking out through the barred window; 
she is very pale and wan; her eyes are large and 
appealing in their sadness. She has scarcely 
eaten or slept during the last three days; she has 
no veil and her loosened hair ripples around her 
form. 

Alceda 

In dreary tones. 

The days creep on and I am prisoned here — 
no fragrant flowers, no murmuring trees, no 
sparkling fountain, no beautiful blue sky ! only 
the striped patch of sunshine through the 
barred window— alas ! alas I I have no faithful 
nurse — only that hard-visaged stranger — my 
127 



128 WITHOUT THE WALLS [act m 

Elizabeth is forbidden to come to me — ^no word 
of Tiberius — O Tiberius! — ^my Love! my 
Love! Why have you left me to my fate? 
Where are you? Where is the power of 
Rome ? 

The holt of the door is moved from without, Alceda 
gathers her forces to meet her Father with self- 
control. Enter Jahdiel, the Pharisee. He looks 
at Alceda with forbidding sternness. 

Jahdiel 

Sternly. 

Three days have passed — the time I promised 
you for thought. I come now for your de- 
cision. Will you, of your own will, renounce 
Tiberius? Will you, in obedience to my will, 
wed Josephus ? Will you promise me that you 
will never look upon the cursed Nazarene 
again ? 

For three days Alceda has been face to face with the 
great realities of life and face to face with her own 
soul; the loftiness and dignity of a new maturity 
have come upon her: she draws herself up proudly. 

Alceda 
For three days, Father, I have thought of the 
words you said when you locked me in; for 



ACT m] WITHOUT THE WALLS 129 

three days I have pondered them: now I know 
my mind — it is unalterable. I will not re- 
nounce Tiberius — it would be broken faith. I 
will not wed Josephus — it would be blasphemy 
to love. I must seek the Nazarene, for I am 
persuaded that He holds the key to the door of 
new life! 

Jahdiel 

Inexorably. 

This then is the end! You are no longer a 
daughter of my House ! I will take you to my 
vineyard lands beyond the hills, where my 
servants hold a stout tower. There, I will 
keep you silently, as a stranger. No word 
shall be spoken, for I will not have a second 
scandal get abroad. One scandal in the life 
of a Pharisee is too much! But, from hence- 
forth, you are cut off, cast out from me and 
from my House. 

He raises his right hand ominously. Alceda turns 
paler than before; she lifts her hands protestingly. 

Alceda 
Father— forbear ! Do not curse me, I am a 



130 WITHOUT THE WALLS [act m 

Hebrew woman : for the love of Jehovah ! Do 
not curse me! 

Jahdiel 

Once more ; will you promise these three 

things? 

He stands with lifted hand ready to curse her. 

Alceda 

In despair. 

O Father — Father — I cannot — I cannot prom- 
ise — I dare not forswear my soul ! 

She falls upon the floor, and crouches against the wall, 
burying her face in her arms as one who is buf- 
feted by a mighty storm. 

Jahdiel 

In solemn wrath. 

In the name of the Lord God of Hosts, from 
this day you are cut off from the House of 
your Fathers. May all evil come upon you! 
Cursed be your breasts that they give no suck; 
cursed be your womb that it bear no son! 
May your days be full of blighting and of mil- 
dew; and may the memory of your disobedi- 



ACT m] WITHOUT THE WALLS 131 

ence, wherein you broke the Law, be unto 
your remembrance — an open sore to bring you 
writhing and torment! In the name of Je- 
hovah. 

Jahdiel turns, and without looking at her, goes out of 
the door. Alceda hears the heavy bolt fall into 
the latch, the key turns in the lock. She crouches 
desolately on the ground, a motionless creature of 
despair, the curse resting upon her like a pall. 

Alceda 

God of my Fathers, have pity upon me ! Have 
pity upon me! A Hebrew maiden cursed — 
cursed! How can I live under the curse of 
my Father ! 

She crouches silent a while in abject despair — suddenly 
the sound of shouting from the multitude comes 
through the barred window — Alceda raises her 
head and listens. 

Voices or the Multitude 

Hosanna! Hosanna! Blessed is He that 
Cometh in the name of the Lord ! 

Alceda uncovers her face and listens intently: then she 
rises swiftly, goes to the barred window and looks 
out. 



132 WITHOUT THE WALLS [act m 

Alceda 

It is He — the Nazarene! 

She draws back from the window, raises her head, and 
stands as if remembering. 

What were those words He said that day? — 
that happy day when Tiberius was beside me? 
—"Come unto me all ye that are heavy-laden, 
and I will give you rest/' 

She turns and stretches her arms through the bars of 
the window; she speaks in poignant tones. 

O Master, Master, I am very weary — heavy- 
laden unto death — help me — help me ! I am 
come ! 

Strength seems to infuse her, as though virtue had 
flowed back to her for the asking. After a pause. 

And what were those other words that Miriam 
told me He said? "Blessed are they that 
mourn for they shall be comforted." Ah! 
He blesses — He does not curse — curses fall 
away in His sight — a blessing flows into the 
soul of those who ask. 

Her face grows more and more radiant as she leans 
against the bars of the window and looks after 



ACT m] WITHOUT THE WALLS 133 

Jesus, who has passed below. Voices from the 
street swell upward. 

The Multitude 
Hosanna ! Hosanna ! 

Alceda 

Softly. 

Master, I also say hosanna — in my heart. 



ACT III 
SCENE II 



ACT III 

SCENE II 

Two Days Later 

The seat by the roadside, the same as in Act II, Scene I. 
Tiberius is sitting on the seat and looking down 
the road. 

Tiberius 

Between those olive trees stands the house 
where my beloved lies! My Flower of the 
Mountains, you are sick, and I cannot bear 
you in my arms; weary, and I cannot refresh 
you ; in fever, and I cannot minister unto you ! 
Two days more before the Passover is ended 
and I see her Father again: I have given my 
word to wait. Is he a crafty fox — or is he 
an honest Hebrew? This country is prolific 
of extremes. It is natural that he should 
desire to have a man of his own people for his 
son-in-law. I cannot blame him for that! 
He stoned his wife? That was cruel — yes — 
137 



138 WITHOUT THE WALLS [act m 

but perhaps he thought that she was guilty. 
She was not: I know without proof, she was 
not guilty: Alceda's Mother was as white as 
snow ! but perhaps he believed a lie of her and 
judged her without cause — he has the air of 
a relentless judge: and if he judged her guilty 
then his religion, his conscience, would bid 
him follow the harsh code of his religion. 
Ah! I ask myself once more is he an honest 
Hebrew — alert, stern, relentless, arid forbid- 
ding — or is he a crafty fox? If a man be 
honest, true, sincere — then, one can handle him, 
though he were as hard as the unsplit rock; 
but if he be a hypocrite — it is a different thing. 
I do not like his eyes. 

A heavily-veiled figure comes stealthily out from 
amongst the trees and approaches Tiberius. She 
is Elizabeth, Alceda's nurse, but she is so disguised 
that Alceda, herself, could not have recognised her. 

Elizabeth 
Sir, I would speak with you. 

Tiberius 

Impatient of any interruption. 
I have no ears. 



ACT m] WITHOUT THE WALLS 139 

Elizabeth 
You have a heart. 

Tiberius 
Not for strangers. 

Elizabeth 
For the love of the God of Israel, hear me ! 

Tiberius 
I know Him not. 

Elizabeth 

Contemptuously. 

It is the more pity and shame for you ! 

Tiberius 
Let that be as it may. 

Elizabeth 
We are wasting time. 

Tiberius 
Then, leave me, and waste it not. 

Elizabeth 
For the love of Alceda, hear me! 



140 WITHOUT THE WALLS [act in 

Tiberius 

Leaning quickly forward and grasping her arm. 
Speak, woman! 

Elizabeth 

In troth, I am trying to speak ; I came for that 
purpose. But how can I speak when you will 
not listen? I do not like to talk to the wind, 
it is a sorry business to have one's words 
blown, unheeded, as thistle-down — I — 

Tiberius 

Sharply. 

Speak, woman. Is she dead? 



Elizabeth 



Earnestly. 
God forbid! 



Tiberius 
In the name of Jupiter, who are you? 

Elizabeth 
I do not answer heathen questions! — I wor- 
ship Jehovah ! 



ACT m] WITHOUT THE WALLS 141 

Tiberius 
In the name of any god you please, who are 
you? 

Elizabeth 
In a broken voice. 

I am Elizabeth, the nurse of Alceda, cast off 
from the darling of my heart because of my 
love for her ! 

Tiberius 

Tenderly, motioning her to the seat beside him. 
Sit here, woman, and have no fear. The 
power of Rome will protect you and keep you 
from all want! 

Elizabeth 

With a lofty gesture of disdain. 
Want? — I do not want your Roman food; can 
your Roman food nourish me when I am 
hungry for my child! Can your Roman coin 
content me when I am cut in two? 

Tiberius 
Kindly. 

No — but there are other things which might 
content you. 



142 WITHOUT THE WALLS [act m 

Elizabeth 

None that a Roman can give me. Rome is the 
enemy of Israel: Rome sits on her seven hills 
and shakes the men of Judea about as though 
they were dice for Her pleasure. 

Tiberius 
Then you would not care to live in Rome ? 

Elizabeth 

I should rather live in the bottomless pit, for 
there at least I should be safe. 

Tiberius 

I thought, perchance, you would like to share 
Alceda's home when she goes to Rome. 

Elizabeth 
Sir, she will never go to Rome ! 

Tiberius 

Impatiently. 

Waste no words! Tell me of Alceda. 



ACT m] WITHOUT THE WALLS 143 

Elizabeth 
'Tis that I came to tell. 

Tiberius 
Then speak! 

Elizabeth looks around carefully to be sure they are 
alone, then sits beside Tiberius and speaks in a 
low voice — but with startling distinctness. 

Elizabeth 
Alceda is in prison. 

Tiberius 

Alarmed. 

In prison? Where? 

Elizabeth 
Pointing in the direction of JahdieVs house. 

There — in her Father's house, in a cell, a dirty 
cell — Oh, but it is dirty — a foul place be- 
neath the eaves, built for unruly servants of 
the house! My dainty darling, with her 
fragrant ways! She who must ever have her 
linen sno^v}^ clean and bathes herself in per- 
fume. 



144 WITHOUT THE WALLS [act m 

Tiberius 

Interrupting. 

Is she sick? 

Elizabeth 

Continuing. 

Who ever binds her hair with sweet smelling 
waters and perfumes her body with ointments 
of the rose. 

Tiberius 

Impatiently. 

Answer my question — is she sick? 

Elizabeth 
Could she be well without me? She knows 
not how to care for herself — she knows not 
how to bind her hair: I have always tended 
her — I am her foster-mother. 

Tiberius 

With tense impatience. 

Woman, I have waited too long on your ever- 
lasting tongue — is she sick? 

Elizabeth 
My tongue is but given me to make things plain 



ACT m] WITHOUT THE WALLS 145 

— how can I say what I have come to say un- 
less I use my tongue? 

Tiberius 

In despair. 

Your tongue is very precious, if only it were 
not so long. Tell me of Alceda. Is she sick? 

Elizabeth 

I do not know — to-day. 

Tiberius 

Was she very sick yesterday? — the day be- 
fore? — any day? — she was sick five days ago, 
when I was with her Father: he told me of 
her fever. 

Elizabeth 

Five days ago ? — No. That day she was well, 
and yesterday she was well, in body, but her 
heart — Oh, her heart! It is broken! He 
dragged her from me and locked her in. 
David, the servant boy, tried to save her — he 
would lay down his life for Alceda — the rescue 
was planned: I waited while he went to break 
open the door, to pick the lock. He can do 
it: he is a sly one — David! — no one knows of 



146 WITHOUT THE WALLS [act m 

the many locks he has broken open, but this 
time I was glad for once for his sly tricks. I 
waited in hiding, holding my breath. He was 
caught in the very act by Jahdiel and Jahdiel 
had no mercy — Poor boy ! Poor boy ! He is 
not so bad: only mischievous. He was beaten 
until he was near to death and then he was 
cast out into the street, to die. I, alone, was 
left — I watched beside Alceda, whom I could 
not see — I lay before the door of the cell and 
hushed my breath to listen — I whispered words 
of comfort through the door. Every night I 
lay on the stone floor before that barred door 
until dawn. Last night Jahdiel found me and 
sent me also out of the house. Since I have 
gone, Alceda may be sick — I cannot tell — 
she may be very sick — she may be dead. 
Elizabeth begins to moan. 

Tiberius 

With anger in his eyes. 
Jahdiel is a liar! 

Elizabeth 

Have you only just found that out, to-day? I 
have known it a long while. 



ACT m] WITHOUT THE WALLS 147 

Tiberius 

Five days ago, he told me Alceda was sick — 
to wait a week, then come to him again: and, 
then, I might see Alceda. 

Elizabeth 
With a shrug of her shoulders. 

And before you come, he will have sent her 
hence, and he will have some new lie for you. 

Tiberius 

Ah I Not now ! Have no fear, Elizabeth, all 
will be well. 

Elizabeth 
You do not know Jahdiel, the Pharisee ! 

Tiberius 
I know the power of Rome ! 

Elizabeth 
Alarmed. 

If you bring the power of Rome to aid you, 
Jahdiel will stab Alceda through the heart ! 



148 WITHOUT THE WALLS [act in 

Tiberius 

Anxiously. 

You think that? 

Elizabeth 

I know it! Jahdiel would rather hang upon 
a gibbet as high as Haman's, than not have 
his own way — I pray you do not bring the 
soldiers of Rome, for in the hour that they 
come, Alceda will surely die! 

Tiberius 

Trying to keep up his own courage. 

Rome has other ways than force, my friend. 
We will match subtlety with subtlety. I must 
think — I must consider. Stay near where I 
can find you: keep me informed of anything 
you hear: we will yet save her. 

Elizabeth 
Moaning. 

O my darling — my little lamb ! 
Tiberius 

To himself. 

In prison? It cannot be! The very bolts 



ACT ni] WITHOUT THE WALLS 149 

would fall away before the strength of her in- 
nocence ; the doors would open to the power of 
her virgin loveliness ! 

Elizabeth 

In despair. 

Ough ! You know not the locks and the bolts 
on the doors of the house of Jahdiel, the Phari- 
see. 
Elizabeth continues to moan. 

Tiberius 

Laying his hand upon her arm. 
Be comforted, my poor woman. 
Elizabeth 

Considering him. 

You are not so bad, after all, for a Roman. 
Tiberius 

Taking her hand. 

I love Alceda, you love Alceda. Love knows 

no country, no class, no caste, no sect. 

Elizabeth 

With a suggestion of tenderness in her voice, which no 
one hut Alceda has ever heard there before. 

You are a brave gentleman: you are comfort- 



150 WITHOUT THE WALLS [act m 

ing me, when, methinks, you need comfort 
yourself. 

Tiberius 

Ah — that I do, in very truth ! 

Tiberius offers her a purse. 

Here, my good woman, this may meet your 
need. 

Elizabeth 
Drawing back. 

I thank you, Sir, but a Hebrew takes no 
Roman coin — A Hebrew needs no Roman gold. 
I have many friends who will house me until 
I find work to do. 

Tiberius 

Give it to David, then: he will take it, will 
he not? 

Elizabeth 

Scornfully. 

David? Ay! He would take the dust from 
off the shoes of a Roman if it did advantage 
him: he has neither honour nor pride. 
Tiberius thrusts the purse into her hand. 



ACT m] WITHOUT THE WALLS 151 

Tiberius 

Then, give it to him — give the gold to David 
and let him be your messenger: send me any 
word that you may hear and he will carry word 
to you — of my plans. 

Elizabeth 

Plans — plans? It is as well to make barriers 
of straw before the wind as to make any plans 
to stay the hand of Jahdiel. 

Tiberius 

Woman, the outcome of our plans, the outcome 
of our destiny, is on the lap of the Gods. 
Jahdiel — your Beelzebub himself — cannot stop 
what is to be. 

Elizabeth 

Elizabeth looks at him sternly, drawing herself up 
proudly. 

He is not my Beelzebub! 

Tiberius 
He belongs to your nation ! 



152 WITHOUT THE WALLS [act m 

Elizabeth 
Ay, that he does — and you would believe in 
him if you knew Jahdiel! 

Tiberius 
I know all that I desire to know of Jahdiel. 

Elizabeth 
I must hence, would that I might go to Alceda ! 

Tiberius 
Our Destiny is safe in the hands of our Gods — 

Elizabeth 
Perhaps that means somewhat the same as 
The Lord God will lead me. 

Tiberius 
It is the same, Elizabeth — all true religions 
are the same at their hearts: a power higher 
than ourselves to trust — an earnest effort to 
find and follow the Everlasting God. 

Elizabeth 
You are a kind gentleman — I do not wonder 
Alceda loves you. Farewell. 



ACT m] WITHOUT THE WALLS 153 

Tiberius 

Pray to your God — and I will pray to mine — 
and Destiny will lead us. 

Elizabeth makes a low obeisance and goes off. 

Age after age man has dreamed of God and 
still he dreams: age after age man has sought 
for Him and still he seeks. Jupiter — Jehovah 
— it is the same: worship, trust, prayer, serv- 
ice, reaching out for help, for guidance. Oh 
— would that the great Spirit would send some 
Logos to teach us, some manifestation to show 
us the best way to go ! 



ACT III 
SCENE III 



ACT III 

SCENE III 

The Day on which was Crucified 

JESUS OF NAZARETH. 

A green hill without the walls that lie around the City 
of Jerusalem. The hill is bare of trees — the City 
of Jerusalem can be seen to the right of the hill. 

A seething mass of people — soldiers, peasants, priests, 
profligates, Publicans, Pharisees, Sadducees, and 
men of the Court, women and children are con- 
stantly passing, at the bottom of the hill, on their 
way to Golgotha, which lies beyond. 

On the hill are sitting Tiberius: Nicodemus — a Ruler 
in Israel: Antiocles — a Greek philosopher : and 
Marius — a gay Roman courtier. 

The confused sounds of the shouting of the rabble, the 
clanking of the armour of soldiers and the babble 
of voices can be heard coming from Golgotha. 

Nicodemus 

Thoughtfully. 

This is a day of wrath. Rome will be con- 
demned for this day! 

157 



158 WITHOUT THE WALLS [act m 

Tiberius 

Rome ? Condemned ? Rome will not bear the 
burden of this day. It is your own High 
Priests who have done the deed: the shadow 
of it will rest upon the Hebrew Hierarchy. 
Pilate has washed his hands of it! 

NiCODEMUS 

He who washes his hands of a bad matter which 
he could prevent is the one who will bear the 
most blame. 

Tiberius 

Considering. 

I think, perhaps, that that is true. 

Marius 

Speaking in a light, gay voice. 

It is neither the High Priests nor the Romans 
who do this deed — it is the people. They 
were all tired of the pestilential strife stirred 
up by this Jesus. Jews, Romans, Greeks, 
Barbarians, the Populace, the Rabble — they 
all demanded it! I do not blame them. He 
is against all established order, even of His own 



ACT m] WITHOUT THE WALLS 159 

church — ^your church, Nicodemus — which, at 
least, keeps the peace. 

Nicodemus 

With dignity. 

It was not because He stirred up strife: it was 
because He told men the truth : men do not like 
to be told the truth about themselves : they like 
better to be thought the thing they profess, the 
thing they claim to be, but this Jesus covered 
not His words : He spoke clearly, without wax, 
and so they all wanted to be rid of Him. 

Antiocles 

It was but five days since we heard them shout- 
ing hosannas to Him as though they would 
make Him king — that was also the voice of 
the people. 

Tiberius 

And but now they shouted "Crucify Him!" — 
Bah ! the voice of the people is the voice of the 
devil ! 

Antiocles 
A certain Greek has said that "the voice of the 
people is the voice of truth." 



160 WITHOUT THE WALLS [act m 

Marius 

Smiling sarcastically. 

Greece has many things to learn, Antiocles. 

Antiocles 

Lifting his eyebrows. 
From Rome? 

Marius 

Politely, with suavity. 
Ay, from Rome. 

Tiberius 

Turning to Nicodemus. 

Nicodemus, what think you of this Nazarene? 

Nicodemus 
I think He is a sincere, a righteous man, a 
prophet, a second Isaiah, with this added power 
— He comprehends the spirit of our day and 
generation. 

Tiberius 

Thoughtfully. 

I have weighed His words and it seems to me 



ACT m] WITHOUT THE WALLS 161 

He comprehends the spirit of all days and all 
generations — He speaks to the human heart. 

Antiocles 

The human heart is ever the same from gen- 
eration to generation, wherever the country, 
whatever the time. 

Marius 

If He is true and comprehends our times, why 
do so many men think that He is mad? 

Tiberius 

Men ever think that he who has a vision is 
mad. It may be that His words will last when 
Rome has passed away. 

Marius 

How you have changed of late, Tiberius! 
Your constant study has unsteadied you: 
where is the Tiberius whose life was all gaiety 
and mirth? 

Tiberius 

He has learned somewhat. 

Sorrowfully, looking toward Golgotha. 



162 WITHOUT THE WALLS [act m 

We sit here as He hangs upon that cross — we 
are as impotent to help as little children in 
the dark. 

Marius 

With arrogance. 

He is but the son of a carpenter — only one of 
the common toilers of the earth: wherefore 
is the noble Tiberius so distressed? — It is but 
one of countless deaths that take place every 
day. 

Tiberius 

Sharply. 

He is a man with a message from the Gods — 
and they crucify Him ! Would to God I could 
have died in His stead ! I have no message. 

Marius 

Mystified. 

I know not what you mean. 

Tiberius 
I scarce know myself. 

NiCODEMUS 

I thought at first He proposed to build up a 



ACT m] WITHOUT THE WALLS 163 

kingdom: He had great power— the people 
were with Him — ^they desired to crown Him. 
I went to Him by night and questioned Him: 
after that, I concluded that He had no thought 
of earthly preferment. 

Tiberius 

Eagerly. 

You went to Him? You questioned Him? 

NiCODEMUS 

In a puzzled tone as if scarce understanding the words 
that he repeated. 

He said — ''Ye must be born again." 
Marius 

Laughing. 

"Born again!" Ha! Ha! Born a second 
time! Is He a jester — ? It were a difficult 
task for you to be born again — you measure 
full six feet in height. 

NiCODEMUS 

Speaking to Tiberius and ignoring Marius. 

I asked Him how that could be — and He said 
a strange thing. 



164 WITHOUT THE WALLS [act in 

Tiberius 
With great eagerness. 
What said He? 

NiCODEMUS 

Slowly as if considering the words. 

He said — and without doubt He spoke as one 
having authority — ^'that which is born of the 
flesh is flesh : that which is born of the Spirit is 
spirit." 

Marius 

Flippantly. 

"Born of the Spirit!" The man is mad — be- 
yond doubt! That is the easiest of all births 
— no travail, no labour — 

NiCODEMUS 

If I understand aright — it is the very hardest 
of all births: the birth of the flesh is as noth- 
ing to the throes and anguish of a birth of the 
spirit: one has to struggle with all the forces 
of evil — the powers of the Devil. 



ACT ni] WITHOUT THE WALLS 165 

Antiocles 

Thoughtfully. 

"Born of the Spirit" ? That is a subtle thought 
— it challenges the mind. 

Tiberius 

Aside. 

"Born of the Spirit"? I understand it better 

than I once would — since I have loved Alceda 

I think I have been born of the Spirit. 

Aloud. 

I would we could hear His words, if He should 
speak, but we are too far off. 

Marius 

Turning to Tiberius courteously. 

By all the Gods, Tiberius, I am glad that you 
did not insist upon our waiting upon the hill 
of Golgotha. You are a man of great per- 
suasion, and if you had insisted I fear we 
should have obeyed you. 

Tiberius 
You are as clay in the hands of the potter, 
Marius, are you not? 



166 WITHOUT THE WALLS [act m 

Marius 

With the air of a courtier. 

When the noble Tiberius is the potter then am I 
the clay. But I like better to have this distance 
between our contemplation and the crowd. 
The Fates preserve us from that rabble by the 
cross. 

Antiocles 
Thoughtfully, looking toward Golgotha. 

That cruel crowd ! Those idle gazers ! That 
jeering throng! That scoffing multitude! 
For a fine spirit, that must be the bitterest of 
all. 

Tiberius 
Eagerly leaning forward. 

Behold! my servant comes from Golgotha: he 
had orders to report to me if the Crucified 
should speak. 

The servant enters: they all turn to him with great in- 
terest and curiosity. 

The Servant 

To Tiberius. 

Sir, He has spoken. 



ACT in] WITHOUT THE WALLS 167 

Tiberius 

Quickly. 
What were His words? 

The Servant 

Evidently much affected, 

"Father, forgive them for they know not what 
they do." 

Tiberius 

Much agitated. 

Did He say that? Heard you the words aright? 

The Servant 

All those who stood near the cross could hear 
the words. 

Tiberius makes a peremptory motion of the hand — exit 
the Servant. 

Tiberius 

Emphatically. 

He is of God — none but a man infused with 
divine power from Olympus could forgive that 
dreadful death — that cruel injustice — that ig- 
nominy — that horror — 



168 WITHOUT THE WALLS [act m 

NiCODEMUS 
Sorrowfully. 
The bitter shame — to a son of Israel ! 

Marius 

With a shudder, stroking the palms of his soft white 
hands. 

The agonizing pain of the flesh ! 
Antiocles 

Under standingly. 

The incomparable pain of the spirit ! 

Marius 

Sceptically to Tiberius. 

Tiberius, if He be, as you think, endowed with 
power from on High, why then does He not 
save Himself? 

Tiberius 
I know not ! I wish I knew. 

Antiocles 
This may be the way. 



ACT m] WITHOUT THE WALLS 169 

Marius 
Curling his Up scornfully. 
Death the way of salvation? 

Antiocles 

Self-sacrifice — the way of immortality: and 
immortality that has been won by a great deed 
— the way of salvation. 

NiCODEMUS 
Turning to Antiocles. 

Antiocles, verily the Greeks have much sym- 
pathy in their thought with the mind of Judea. 

Antiocles 

Sir, the Greeks have sympathy with the 
thought of all nations: Greece was never 
provincial. 

NiCODEMUS 

Your word matches the word of one of our 
Hebrew kings who said: ^^Great deeds bring 
immortality." 

Antiocles 
In very truth they do. 



170 WITHOUT THE WALLS [act m 

NiCODEMUS 
This is a great deed : to have authority with 
the people— and to forgo it: to be hung upon 
the bitter cross — and to forgive it. Yea, it is 
an immortal deed! 

Upon the hilltop no one speaks. The four men sit in 
silence looking toward Golgotha. After a time 
the servant enters again swiftly — he has been run- 
ning from Golgotha. 

The Servant 

Excitedly. 

His God has deserted Him! His God has 
deserted Him! 

Tiberius 
Sternly and eagerly. 
How know you that? What were His words? 

The Servant 

He cried with a loud voice so that all men could 
hear Him — "My God, my God, why hast Thou 
forsaken Me?" and His face was sorrowful 
unto death. 
A look of hitter disappointment comes over Tiberius: 



ACT m] WITHOUT THE WALLS 171 

he makes a gesture of command and the servant 
goes back to Golgotha. 

Tiberius 

In a tone of deep disappointment. 
He is only a man, after all. 

Marius 

Laughing lightly. 

An impostor — as I have said from the begin- 
ning. 

NiCODEMUS 

Decidedly and sternly. 

Were He an impostor He would not have said 
those words: He would have measured His 
words for the record. 

Marius 
Pain of the flesh makes men cry out. 

NiCODEMUS 
With a voice of authority. 

Were it the pain of the flesh He would have 
cried out in the beginning. I thought, per- 



172 WITHOUT THE WALLS [act m 

chance, He would. I waited for it, but as He 
did not cry out in the beginning, surely it is not 
pain of the flesh: the agony of the accursed 
crucifixion is the very sharpest when men first 
hang upon the cross and it was then that He 
said those divine words which none but a 
Son of God could have uttered — "Father, 
forgive them for they know not what they do'^ 
— ^pity for the ignorance of His murderers — 
pardon for their cruelty — it was a supreme 
triumph ! 

Tiberius 

Turning impatiently to Nicodemus. 

Then of what import was His later cry? 

Nicodemus 

It may be that His flesh is growing faint and 
that the cloud of physical darkness falls over 
His spirit as it falls over the spirit of all men 
in dying. It may be that pain has made His 
mind to wander and the old Hebrew songs He 
learned in childhood haunt His memory — 
one of our Hebrew songs is "Eloi, Eloi, lama 
sabachthani?" It may be that His great soul 



ACT m] WITHOUT THE WALLS 173 

would lift the burden of the world for others — 
the suffering and the sin — and that stupendous 
shadow hides for a moment the face of God. 
I cannot yet judge — I wait to hear what His 
final death-word will be. 

Antiocles 

Aroused to keen intellectual interest. 

^Tift the burden of the world for others?" 
That is a majestic thought! — Atonement — 
atonement for mankind! — but it is not a new 
thought. Sophocles divined it long ago: he 
gave us a mind-compelling word. 

Marius 

Does any new thought come to us that Greece 
does not claim it? 

Antiocles 

Is there any old thought of the Grecian philoso- 
phers that Rome does not arrogate to Herself? 
Nicodemus, do you know the Antigone of 
Sophocles ? 

Nicodemus 
I do not know it. 



174 WITHOUT THE WALLS [act m 

Antiocles 
In his Antigone, Sophocles says these words: 
"One soul working in the strength of love 
is mightier than ten thousand to atone." 
( Thoughtfully. ) What if this death be an act 
of love — ^love for the world — a desire to atone 
for the blindness — the folly — the sins of man- 
kind? 

Tiberius 

Aside, looking toward Golgotha. 

I had not thought His God would forsake Him. 
I had not thought His faith would falter — No, 
not to the very end ! 

No one speaks upon the hilltop — the four men sit in 
silence. Marius stretches himself upon the grass 
and falls asleep. Nicodemus lifts his hands in 
prayer: he is silently saying the Hebrew prayers 
for the dying. Antiocles sits, wrapped in philo- 
sophic contemplation. Tiberius looks toward 
Golgotha with tense, almost breathless expect- 
ancy. Suddenly, the servant enters running: he 
is very pale: he is trembling. 

The Servant 

In a broken voice. 
Sir, it is finished! 



ACT m] WITHOUT THE WALLS 175 

Tiberius 

Tensely. 

Tell us of the end ! 

Marius starts up — Antiocles and Nicodemus assume a 
listening and attentive attitude — Tiberius is in- 
tent and eager. 

The Servant 
I never looked upon so great a thing! 

All 

Impatiently. 

Speak! 

The Servant 

I stood near the cross. I saw all — I heard all : 
it is very certain He is no shadow lord — His 
dying words bring proof that He is no dreamer 
of dreams — He is a practical man like unto 
other men — there was a word for the care and 
the comfort of His Mother, as any man might 
give: there was a cry of pain from parching 
thirst, as any man might have upon the cross: 
there was a word of brotherly compassion and 
hope to the thief beside Him — Think of it, from 
a teacher to a robber! Then all was silent — 



176 WITHOUT THE WALLS [act m 

even the rabble had somewhat ceased their 
clamour for a space and then — 



Eagerly. 
And then? 



Tiberius 



NiCODEMUS 



With alert interest. 
And then? 

Marius 

With careless curiosity. 
And then? 

The Servant 

Then the cry — "It is finished." I looked up 
into His face: it was as beautiful as morning 
— on His lips there was a smile — a smile that 
hurt me here : 

The servant puts his hand over his heart. 

a wonderful look came into His eyes: it 
was a look of victory as though He had con- 
quered all the battles of all the world, and 
then in clear, calm tones He said these words 



ACT m] WITHOUT THE WALLS 177 

— "Father, into Thy hands I commend my 
spirit." An instant passed: He bowed His 
head and gave up the ghost. 

Tiberius 

With great exultation. 

His God was with Him — at the end. He is 
true! 

NiCODEMUS 

Sharply. 

Did you doubt it? 

Tiberius 

Yes, when He said His God had forsaken Him 
— I did doubt it. 

NiCODEMUS 

Then, least of all, all faith is stronger for a 
moment's doubt — it is the shadow which proves 
the light — that doubt is a proof of His hu- 
manity and becomes a warrant of His truth. 

Antiocles 

It is because of those words / can believe Him : 
He was no impostor, no actor, but a real man 



178 WITHOUT THE WALLS [act in 

who is a supreme philosopher. Those words 
echo the heart of all men in hours of agony — 
but His final word is the convincing proof. 

Marius 

Sceptically. 

He is sure of His God, is He not? 

NiCODEMUS 

With dignity. 

Sir, we of our race are ever sure of our God: 
He f aileth not. 

Marius 
But this Jesus is also sure of Himself. 

Tiberius 

That is enough for me ! If a man can be sure 
of himself as he goes down into the Shades — 
If he can commend his spirit with calm con- 
fidence to Him who waits beyond — it is enough. 

NiCODEMUS 

You are right, Tiberius, the life of this Naza- 
rene is vindicated by the manner of His death. 



ACT m] WITHOUT THE WALLS 179 

Thoughtfully to himself. 

I must ponder how I can be bom again! 

Marius 

After a brief silence, with new respect in his tone. 
A brave man has died this day ! 

NiCODEMUS 
With deep sorrow. 

A mighty Master has fallen in Israel ! 

Antiocles 
With conviction. 

A great Philosopher has passed into the 
Shades ! 

But Tiberius utters no word: he stands motionless — his 
head uncovered, looking toward Golgotha. A 
deep darkness slowly descends upon the earth: 
it covers the hilltop like a pall — the earth quakes: 
through the darkness can be heard the shrieks and 
the groans of the terrified. 



ACT III 
SCENE IV 



ACT III 
SCENE IV 

Two Hours Later 

The seat by the roadside as in Act II, Scene I. The 
great veil of darkness that has enwrapped the 
earth is slowly lifting — the light is beginning to 
break — the hills, the bushes, the trees and the 
stone seat slowly emerge from the darkness and 
take form in the shadowy mist. JahdieVs house 
can be seen in the distance. 

Tiberius stands in the shadows and looks around in a 
bewildered way — after a moment he gets his bear- 
ings and knows where he is — for some time he has 
been walking blindly, through the darkness and 
when the light breaks he finds himself in the 
familiar place. 

Tiberius 

Thanks be to all the Gods that led me here! 
Love guided my feet. The Poet, Cariston, is 
right, ''Love walks unscathed upon a brazen 
sea and falters not in darkness." I knew not 
183 



184 WITHOUT THE WALLS [act m 

where to turn when the darkness fell; but I 
followed my heart — 

Suddenly, through the misty twilight that still covers 
the earth, he sees Alceda. 

O Gods of Olympus! 

Aloud in glad surprise. 

Alceda! 

She starts; gives a long, low moan and runs into his 
arms, 

Alceda 

With a cry. 

Tiberius — Tiberius — What is it? — Where am 
I? — What has befallen the earth? 

He folds her in his arms and soothes her. 

Tiberius 

You are safe, Beloved! Tremble not, my 
Flower, the earth is quiet now: the darkness is 
fast lifting: and you are in my arms: be not 
afraid ! 

Alceda 

In a voice of terror. 

Tiberius, I am afraid — I am sore afraid — 



ACT m] WITHOUT THE WALLS 185 

I have been imprisoned these many days in my 
Father's house — and you came not — Oh! you 
came not — Suddenly, all grew black around 
me and the earth shook — I trembled in the 
darkness — I fell upon the floor and lay there, 
I heard around me crashes, the breaking of 
beams, and fearsome noises — I thought the 
house was falling upon my head — a long time 
I lay frightened and terrified — then, I remem- 
bered that I was not alone, that the Lord God 
Omnipotent was with me — He quieted my 
pulses and I began to think — I thought of 
you, Tiberius — and the awful death that had 
so affrighted me seemed a blessed escape: 
surely it were better to die, than to live apart 
from you — and my Father intends never to let 
me see your face again. 

Tiberius 

Embracing her. 

My Beloved! There is no life for you apart 
from me, any more. 

Alceda 
Suddenly the darkness began to lift and this 



186 WITHOUT THE WALLS [act in 

gray light dawned : I arose and groped my way 
along the stone wall until I found the door. 
Thanks be to Jehovah ! in answer to my prayer 
it yielded to my touch — the bolts and the lock 
had slipped back when the earth shook — I 
hastened out — I ran from room to room — I 
called but no living creature was there — ^my 
Father was gone — ^my nurse was gone — ^the 
servants were gone — even my dog was gone — 
and my little bird was dead from fright. I 
ran out into the street — and then, I ran into 
your arms. 

Tiberius 
That is an omen, Alceda. 

Alceda 
Verily I think it is. 

Tiberius 

Fate would not let the prison door hold you — 
I said the bolts would fall back before you. 

Alceda 
Tiberius — what has happened? 



ACT ni] WITHOUT THE WALLS 187 

Tiberius 
He is dead ! 

Alceda 

Startled. 

Who is dead? 

Tiberius 
Jesus of Nazareth ! 

Alceda hides her face upon Tiberius' breast and clings 
to him in the half -darkness. 

Alceda 
Dead ? — I did not think that He could die ! 

Tiberius 

Nor can He! They hung Him on the cross 
and He gave up the ghost — but He is not dead. 
He will live for ever! When it was finished, 
an earthquake shook the earth and a great 
darkness fell. 

Alceda 

Pale and trembling. 

They have crucified Him? O Tiberius — I 
cannot bear it ! 



188 WITHOUT THE WALLS [act m 

Tiberius 

He bore it; He had no fear; He forgave those 
who crucified Him and in dying He commended 
His soul to God. My Flower of the Moun- 
tains, do not tremble so. 

Alceda 
Tiberius, you believe that He is of God ? 

Tiberius 

I know not: but this one thing I know — there 
is more of God in Him and in His words than 
in all the scholars and all the teachers in the 
world — that is enough for me. 

Alceda 

Laying her hand softly on Tiberius' arm and speaking 
with sudden dignity. 

Tiberius, I have no home, no name — ^my 
Father has cursed me and cast me off — I am 
no longer his daughter. 

Tiberius 

That is well : you are cast out — therefore your 
home is here: you are not your Father's daugh- 



ACT m] WITHOUT THE WALLS 189 

ter any longer — therefore, I may claim you 
without fear to you of breaking the law. Be- 
loved, you are my bride and though Jahdiel has 
cursed you, the Nazarene — the Man from the 
Gods — has blessed you. Will you come with 
me? 
A glow of great beauty suffuses her wan face. 

Alceda 

Giving Tiberius her hand. 

I will go with you to the edge of the world and 
I will go over the edge into the void without 
fear, if you hold my hand. 

Tiberius 

Kissing her hand. 

Beautiful little hand! My hand I 

Alceda 

Tiberius, I was so sore afraid and just when 

1 had lost all hope I found your arms. 

Tiberius 

My Flower of the Mountains ! That is a para- 
ble. 



190 WITHOUT THE WALLS [act in 

The mist has been lifting more and more — it has been 
growing lighter — figures can be seen moving about 
— suddenly, Jahdiel is seen hastening down the 
road. 

Alceda 

Alarmed. 

There comes my Father! 

Tiberius 
Courage, Alceda! He has ceased to be your 
Father since he cast you off — leave all to me. 

Jahdiel comes nearer. 

Alceda 

With hesitation. 

My Father ! O my Father ! 

Jahdiel 

With much severity. 

Alceda, how came you here? Back to your 
cell! 

He approaches Alceda to seize her. 

Tiberius 

Stepping between Jahdiel and Alceda. 

She is a Roman matron who walks when and 



ACT in] WITHOUT THE WALLS 191 

where she will! In very fact Alceda is now 
of Rome: she is my betrothed bride — ^we but 
await the morrow to legalise the tie. 
Jahdiel is very angry: he tries again to seize Alceda. 

Jahdiel 
She is my daughter in the law ! 

Tiberius 
Sir, she is no longer your daughter: you dis- 
solved the bond when you cursed her and cast 
her off — from that hour she was free : an earth- 
quake shook Judea when you crucified the 
Prophet Jesus ; all was dark : my Gods or your 
God — whichever you will — ^led me on through 
the darkness to this place : here I found Alceda 
wandering alone, without protection, and she 
gave herself to me: she is now my wife, wait- 
ing only until to-morrow for the outward form. 
I draw around her the circle of Rome and if 
you come between us the power of Rome will 
deal with you! 
Alceda stretches out her hand with a cry. 

Alceda. 
No — ^no, Tiberius! 



192 WITHOUT THE WALLS [act m 

Turning to her Father with dignity. 

It is because of your own dreadful words, my 
Father, that I am here — you made me an out- 
cast and an outcast is free to go where she will. 

Jahdiel 
Though you are an outcast you are still my 
daughter. I care not for the power of Rome! 
If Rome takes you from me it shall take food 
for carrion. 

He draws a dagger from the folds of his garment and 
rushes toward Alceda. Tiberius grasps his arm — 
they are both of about the same stature and both 
powerful men; they wrestle. 

Alceda 

With an agonising cry. 

O Tiberius, have a care! He is my Father! 
O Father, be pitiful — I love him ! 

They wrestle, suddenly a shrouded figure runs swiftly 
by. 

The Shrouded Figure 

Crying in a loud voice. 

The Veil of the Temple is rent in twain — the 



ACT m] WITHOUT THE WALLS 193 

Veil of the Temple is rent in twain. Jehovah 
save us ! 

The look of hostility in JahdieVs face changes to a 
look of paralysed horror: his hand drops power- 
less at his side. 

Jahdiel 

In an awed tone. 

Lord God of Israel! Have mercy upon usl 

The dagger drops from his powerless hand and he hur- 
ries after the shrouded figure. Alceda begins to 
tremble violently. 

Alceda 
In a voice of terror. 

"The Veil of the Temple?" O Jerusalem! 
Jerusalem ! 

Tiberius 
Taking her hand reverently. 

Fear not, Alceda — a new order has dawned 
upon the earth. 

Alceda 

In much agitation. 

You do not understand, Tiberius — you are not 



194 WITHOUT THE WALLS [act in 

a Hebrew — the Ark of the Covenant stood be- 
hind that Veil! 

Tiberius 

Pointing in the direction of Golgotha. 

From that dark cross a new Covenant is made. 

In the distance are heard the voices of certain holy 
women — followers of Jesus. 

The Women 

Chanting. 

^'He hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted 
— to proclaim liberty to the captives and the 
opening of the prison to them that are bound." 

Alceda 
He has opened my prison, Tiberius ! 

Tiberius 

He has opened it to happiness and home. 
Alceda, will you come with me? 

Alceda 

To the end of the world, Tiberius, and into the 
dark! 



ACT m] WITHOUT THE WALLS 195 

Tiberius 

There will be no dark, Beloved, from hence- 
forth, all will be light, rosy light for you, and 
for me — with you beside me. All now is well 
— you are safe, your Father has gone. I will 
take you to the house of a noble Roman lady 
who is my friend. I will bring there, Eliza- 
beth, 3^our nurse. 

Alceda 
My dear, dear nurse ! She is gone ! 

Tiberius 

I will seek her — I know her abiding place. 
To-night you and she will rest, in the house of 
my friend — to-morrow the Laws of Rome will 
make you mine, and then we will set sail upon 
the boundless, beautiful, blue Sea : we will sail 
and sail until we come to Rome ! I will spread 
flower-decked curtains above your head and 
the musicians shall play to you as the boat 
moves beneath the azure sky — we will watch 
the sparkle of the sunshine upon the sea — the 
wind shall sing to us — our days shall be full 



196 WITHOUT THE WALLS [act m 

of gladness and at night the friendly stars shall 
guard our nuptials. 

The Women 

In the distance, chanting. 

"To comfort all that mourn; to give unto them 
beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, 
the garment of praise for the spirit of heavi- 
ness." 

Tiberius 
Tenderly. 

"The oil of joy for mourning" — my Beloved! 

Alceda 

With a glow of radiance in her face. 
"The garment of praise for the spirit of heavi- 
ness." 



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